Westwood draws line under selection row

Lee Westwood has drawn a line under the Ryder Cup selection controversy which was sparked by his selection above Thomas Bjorn.

European captain Ian Woosnam decided Worksop’s Westwood was a better bet than Danish player Bjorn and selected him for a fifth consecutive Ryder Cup team.

“It doesn’t matter what I think. Ian Woosnam is the captain. He picks the team and he has obviously got a plan,” said Westwood, ahead of the Barclays Singapore Open.

Westwood and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland were the two captain’s picks named by European skipper Woosnam on Sunday for the match against the United States at the K Club in Ireland from September 22 to 24.

The decision was met by an angry reaction from Bjorn, who was overlooked despite being higher than Westwood in the world rankings and European Tour order of merit.

Bjorn has since been fined by the European Tour for his comments, which he later withdrew.

He yesterday offered a full apology to Woosnam after admitting he had made “hurtful and personal” remarks about the Welshman.

Westwood, 33, said: “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion and Thomas has been quite clear on what his opinion is.

“That is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned – I am not going to get involved.

“I got the pick and I am looking forward to playing for the European team.”

Westwood believes this year’s European side is one of the strongest ever selected for a Ryder Cup, and is confident he can be part of a victorious team for a fourth time.

“It would be naïve to think that the US is not a strong team as anyone who qualifies to play for them is a world-class player,” said the Englishman, a two-time winner at the K Club.

“However, I would have to say that this European team is one of the strongest that I have seen.

“It has a good mix of experience and rookies and people who have played at the K Club before.

“We have confidence within the team and have as good a chance as any to win the Ryder Cup.”

Westwood is competing this week at the Barclays Singapore Open, the richest national open in Asia with a purse of €2.4m.

The Asian Tour event is taking place on the Serapong course at the Sentosa Golf Club.