Casey might make Ryder Cup team yet...

thelongfellow

Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup selection dilemma, and Paul Casey's Ryder Cup dreams, may not be over after it emerged yesterday that Europe's captain may be forced to make another wild-card pick should Lee Westwood fail to recover from injury in time to play at Celtic Manor.


Westwood, who has not played competitive golf for more than a month, is recuperating from a leg injury and Paul McGinley, one of Europe's vice-captains, conceded in an interview with the Guardian that the world No3's fitness will be "an unknown factor until he turns up".


If Westwood is forced to withdraw from the 12-man team, his place is supposed to go automatically to the next man on the world points qualifying list, Edoardo Molinari. But since the Italian was one of Montgomerie's three captain's picks, another wild-card selection would be required, a European Tour spokesman confirmed.


Inevitably, the spotlight would fall on Casey, who has risen to seventh in the world rankings, and Justin Rose – both of whom were controversially omitted.


McGinley admitted that concerns about Westwood's fitness have boosted America's chances of retaining the Ryder Cup early next month. McGinley, who argued earlier in the summer that Europe were a far stronger team than America, revealed that there are still real anxieties about Westwood's readiness to play.


"A couple of months ago we were quite clear favourites," he said, "but in the last two months things have changed. We have been hurt by Lee Westwood's injury. There's no doubt about that. It's going to be an unknown factor until Lee turns up that week and we see how he feels, having not competed since the Open. That's a disappointment for Europe.
"I also think the American team has got a lot stronger over the last two months and we've had some issues – none more so than Lee having been injured and not having played. He's our No1 player so I think it's going to be a very close Ryder Cup."

By Lawrence Donegan @theguardian.co.uk

BiffoGooner

Westwood's been hitting balls today for the first time since injury apparently. Can't be too badly off in that case. Always the chance he might break down again though.

mike12

Thought it was announced that rose was on stand by if Westwood didnt make it.
Mike

thelongfellow

mike12 wrote: »

Thought it was announced that rose was on stand by if Westwood didnt make it.
Mike

Doesn't ring a bell. If Westwood is practicing now chances are he will make it.

Martin567

thelongfellow wrote: »

Doesn't ring a bell. If Westwood is practicing now chances are he will make it.

He will probably make it. However, no competitive golf at all for about 7 weeks is hardly the ideal preparation for a potential 36 holes per day in the Ryder Cup.

Degag

The place should go to the person behind Molinari on the list if Westwood has to pull out really.

abouttobebanned

Westwood will do what's right for the team

Osgoodisgood

mike12 wrote: »

Thought it was announced that rose was on stand by if Westwood didnt make it.
Mike

This was widely reported and seems to be accepted by all to be true.

In any case Westwood is likely to be fit although it's hard to see him walking 90 holes in 3 days. I assume if he does play and his leg exploded on one of the first 2 days that his singles match is just awarded to the USA?

thelongfellow

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

This was widely reported and seems to be accepted by all to be true.

In any case Westwood is likely to be fit although it's hard to see him walking 90 holes in 3 days. I assume if he does play and his leg exploded on one of the first 2 days that his singles match is just awarded to the USA?

AFAIK the point is split if one player has to withdraw for the singles.

Speak Now

thelongfellow wrote: »

AFAIK the point is split if one player has to withdraw for the singles.

Is correct!

Also i can't see anyone being asked to play 90 holes (obviously all 5 matches would need to go to the wire ) With such strenght in depth on the team i'd say everyone will play on day 1 which will mean only 4 of the 12 will have played both rounds on day 1. I'd imagine Monty will give these 4 guys one of the following days match formats off. Everyone fresh enough then going into the singles as too often in the past i recall us playing too many players over all 4 games and then playing poor in the singles.

scout353

If Westwood withdraws, the place goes to the next person on the points list who happens to be Molinari, which would then give Monty back his pick!

Maybe that was the logic behind the choice in the first place. Then Casey would get in!

yaboya1

scout353 wrote: »

If Westwood withdraws, the place goes to the next person on the points list who happens to be Molinari, which would then give Monty back his pick!

Maybe that was the logic behind the choice in the first place. Then Casey would get in!

He addressed this already during the wildcard announcements.
He said if Westwood withdraws, that Molinari will be an automatic and that Rose would be his pick.

WHIP IT!

Westwood is almost back 100% fit so it's a moot point really.