Lee Westwood says there is pressure on USA ahead of Ryder Cup
Friday 30 September 2016 00:46, UK
Lee Westwood thinks there is added pressure on the United States Ryder Cup team this week after the hosts formed an 11-man "task force" in a bid to halt their run of defeats.
Europe have arrived at Hazeltine seeking an unprecedented fourth straight victory in the biennial tournament and have emerged victorious in six of the last seven.
And, following their defeat at Gleneagles in 2014, the USA decided to form the task force, which examined all aspects of their Ryder Cup process.
The fruits of their labours will be on display over the weekend at Hazeltine but the experienced Westwood says the United States approach has already given Europe a boost.
"It's very flattering to Team Europe that the USA have put this task force together and are trying to replicate what we've done," said the 43-year-old.
"It means we are successful and we are doing it right.
"We take a lot of pride in that, that the USA are taking it so seriously to bring this task force together and bring Davis (Love) in as captain again.
"It gives us a lot of confidence and puts added pressure on them.
"You form a task force and it doesn't go right this week, where do you go from there? You've done pretty much all you can do. So we'll see how that goes.
"A lot of the players on the European side have had multiple experiences of winning Ryder Cups. And, on the other side of that, a lot of their players have had multiple experiences of losing Ryder Cups.
"Winning is a habit and a lot of the players on the European team have that habit and know what the experience is like and what to do."
Westwood has been a key member of the Europe team during their amazing run of success and will be making his 10th consecutive appearance in the Ryder Cup this weekend.
And two-and-a-half points would take him past Nick Faldo as Europe's top scorer in Ryder Cup history.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted to get past Nick's record, because anybody involved in sport wants to break records," said Westwood.
"That's what drives us all on, to be able to say you're the best at anything.
"But if you give me a choice of not winning any points and the Europeans winning the Ryder Cup, then that would definitely come first, before getting in front of Nick's record or getting near it.
"It's all about the team this week."
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