Westwood not expecting an easy Ryder

Lee Westwood needed a wildcard to make the last Ryder Cup team – and the former European number one is not expecting an easier ride this time around.

Westwood fully justified his selection for the K Club in 2006, remaining unbeaten in five matches with three wins and two halves, finishing as Europe’s joint top points scorer alongside Sergio Garcia.

The 34-year-old is seeking a sixth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance at Valhalla in Kentucky next September as a European side captained by Nick Faldo looks to continue their recent domination of the biennial contest.

But he is under no illusions as to the size of his task with European golf currently enjoying unprecedented strength in depth.

“I think, like the last two teams, it will be very hard to qualify,” said Westwood as the qualifying race got under way today in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

“There are a lot of very strong players in Europe now and you could put 30 or 40 candidates forward for the Ryder Cup and only the best players will end up playing.”

It has been suggested half the 12-man team could be English in 2008 and Westwood added: “There are a lot of good English players – David Howell, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Nick Dougherty – and there have been a lot of British players on the last few teams.

“But there is no reason why it can’t go towards the Europeans and I just think it’s great for the European Tour.”

Until recently Westwood would have been a certainty for the European side, but his victory in the Andalucia Open in May was his first since 2003.

He had arrived in Spain complaining about poor putting and it was a similar refrain before today’s opening round at Crans-sur-Sierre.

“I played well last week at Gleneagles, just didn’t putt well,” he added. “I’d like to win more tournaments. I am playing well enough but need to make more putts.

“I made three putts from between 10 and 15 feet last week. It should be 25.

“I am holing so few they are sticking out like a sore thumb when I do hole them. Tee to green I am very strong.”

Westwood was among the afternoon starters today, playing alongside two-time former champion Eduardo Romero and Sweden’s Per-Ulrik Johansson, whose win in the Russian Open recently was his first for 10 years.