Lee Westwood wants 2020 Ryder Cup captaincy

Lee Westwood has confirmed he wants to captain Europe in the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

Westwood, who is currently preparing for the Houston Open this week and then the Masters in April, has played in nine Ryder Cups and been on the winning side on seven occasions.

The 42-year-old says he wants to continue playing for "a little longer" but that his aim is to captain the European side in 2020 and then put his focus on the seniors tour.

"I'd like to go on a little longer," he said. "Two or three years and then I can think about the captaincy. If I put my name in to do the job in four years, I can think about the seniors after that."

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The next instalment of the Ryder Cup takes place at Hazeltine in September and the European team for that contest will be selected by Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke.

Westwood revealed he has told Clarke not to select him based on their long-standing friendship and to only make decisions based on form.

And while he is confident he can perform well enough in the events leading up to the Ryder Cup, Westwood will not underestimate the importance of being involved as a vice-captain to his overall aim of skippering the side.

If you've played in nine Ryder Cups you've got the respect of the players and feel like you can help. I have played under nine different captains, so I've experienced all there is to experience in that regard.

"I can put Darren's mind at rest on that front," Westwood told The Guardian. "The Ryder Cup is an event you want to be going into playing well.

"I've gone into it playing poorly and I've had picks when I've been playing well and justified the pick. The last thing you want is to get a pick and not justify it.

"I'd say to Darren - even before contemplating picking me - not to pick me if I wasn't playing well. It would be very difficult to turn down a pick but it wouldn't get to that stage with me if I didn't think I could justify it. I'd tell Darren beforehand.

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"Past record only counts if you're playing well. You don't want to be playing if you're struggling, there would be too much pressure. It's a goal for this year, hopefully to get some form together and qualify for the team.

"I am playing a lot of golf after the Irish Open in May, only one or two good weeks and you're right in there. If not, I'm happy to go along and get some captaincy experience as vice-captain.

"If you've played in nine Ryder Cups you've got the respect of the players and feel like you can help. I have played under nine different captains, so I've experienced all there is to experience in that regard."