Lee Westwood has warned European players and fans not to rely on Ian Poulter producing more Ryder Cup heroics at Gleneagles next week.
Poulter kickstarted the 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012 with birdies on the last five holes as he and Rory McIlroy beat Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson in the Saturday afternoon fourballs. The 38-year-old went on to beat Webb Simpson in the singles as Jose Maria Olazabal's side pulled off a remarkable victory in Chicago, a seventh European win in the last nine contests.
Poulter has been Europe's top points scorer in each of the last three Ryder Cups — jointly with Luke Donald in 2010 — but Westwood knows it is tough for 'The Postman' to keep delivering the goods.
“I think it’s a lot to ask of him to do the same as he did last time,” Westwood says. “He turned the whole momentum of the Ryder Cup around on that Saturday night so let’s not put too much pressure on him with that, but certainly he seems to be able to raise his game for a Ryder Cup.”
Westwood had to raise his game simply to edge out Donald for captain Paul McGinley’s final wild card, McGinley admitting a “little flourish” of form from Westwood made the difference.
After missing four cuts in succession, including the US Open and Open Championship, Westwood was warned he needed to show some form and responded with a final round of 63 in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and an opening 65 to share the lead in the US PGA Championship.
The 41-year-old went on to finish 15th at Valhalla and after bowing out of the FedEx Cup play-offs following the first event, has been undertaking double sessions in the gym to prepare for Gleneagles.
“Next week is a really tiring week so it’s important to be sharp in every way possible,” added Westwood, who has lost 23 pounds in six weeks. “It’s incredible to think I have played eight Ryder Cups and next week is going to be my ninth.
“I would never have imagined that would happen teeing it up first time at Valderrama. I’ve always been very proud and felt privileged to represent Europe and play in the Ryder Cup for Europe.
“I’ve probably played under more different captains than anybody else because it’s been a different captain for me at every Ryder Cup. They have all had good points and I guess they would all sit down at the end of the day and tell you they have done the odd thing wrong. That’s the privileged position I am in where I can cherry pick hopefully for when I’m captain.”
Westwood is not about to swap his clubs for a walkie-talkie just yet however, knowing he is not the oldest player on either side — Thomas Bjorn is 43 and Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk both 44.
"I'd like to play a few more first," he added. "We're very fortunate in Europe at the moment, we have a lot of potential captains lining up and players with a lot of experience. Thomas has done his time in the team room and Sergio (Garcia) did his time when it was at Celtic Manor.
“There is Pádraig Harrington waiting in the wings and I guess Darren (Clarke). I think it’s a good idea that Pádraig has said he is vice-captain this year as a kind of practice. It’s not just playing in it where you need a bit of experience, the captaincy is also that kind of job.
“I think Paul’s making a very good captain. He’s got some experience from being in the team room and has played and played well, he’s done his time in the Seve Trophy and stuff like that so he’s had a lot of experience of pulling a team together and getting it to function as efficiently as possible.”
With eight appearances — and six wins — under his belt, Westwood also brings plenty of experience to the European cause, but knows he will be under the spotlight after needing a wild card for just the second time.
On the previous occasion, at the K Club in 2006, he played all five matches and went unbeaten with three wins and two halves.
“It’s always important to have had experiences before and I guess that’s partly why Paul has picked me, but there is a little bit of added pressure,” the former world number one added. “You want to kind of justify the captain picking you but at the same point I know what’s expected and what I can do at the Ryder Cup. My record speaks for itself so I am just going to go into it and try and play my best and enjoy it.”
