20 Jan Westwood eyes 2022 Ryder Cup captaincy
Lee Westwood was for sure in the mix of consideration for Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup captaincy but, as widely believed, did not push too hard for the position. However, this won’t be the case when the matches head to Italy two years later.
The problem Westwood had this time was that he would love to be captain, but he can still win tournaments — as proved last year — and feels like he could still qualify for the team for the next match, and will therefore try very hard and make Padraig Harrington’s team for the next 2020 Ryder Cup to be held on American soil.
Westwood, who turns 46 in April, has mentioned that if he doesn’t make the fairways of Whistling Straits then he would love to be a vice captain to gain some experience for Italy when he’ll be 49.
It will be Westwood’s ideal time to be captain as he will still be playing and in touch with the players. Westwood said that it’s now “50-50” whether he recognises a player on the range. At 49, he said he’d be able to “throw everything into it” rather than trying to balance responsibilities as a competitor and captain.
Meanwhile, Europe’s new captain Harrington has appeared solemn and used words as “trepidation” and “daunting” to describe his new job description. The Whistling Straits match is around a couple of years off, but Harrington understands the difficulty of what’s coming and the significance of what’s at stake.
A few American egos were left deflated after the embarrassing loss in France last year and all will come out determined to do better.
Notorious social media:
US player Matt Kuchar apparently paid the local caddie he used only US$3,000 after winning the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico in November, and this meagre payment has overshadowed his recent Sony Open win.
He picked up a US$1.296 million cheque for the Mexico win which, under normal circumstances, equates to a 10% pay day for a regular US tour caddie. Understandably, the feedback he’s received has not been too complimentary.
The lesson to be learnt here is that if social media can turn a smiling Kuchar into a miserable individual, then what about the rest of us.
Out of Bounds: During a recent interview, Henrik Stenson, who is known for his dry wit, was asked if he had to choose between his wife and his 3-wood which one he would pick. He responded by saying that it was an easy question and that it would be the 3-wood.