• Ryder Cup

'Vanishing' Westwood back to 'fighting weight'

Lee Westwood has endured a vigorous training regime to get fit for the Ryder Cup © AP

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Lee Westwood has revealed how a vigorous training regime has enabled him to reach a "fighting weight" for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles next week.

Westwood, 41, claimed he is in the best shape since becoming world No.1 in 2010 after shedding nearly two stone in recent weeks to reach a weight of 14st.

McGinley: Don't get carried away

Paul McGinley won't listen to the bookmakers © Getty Images

• Europe's odds of winning the Ryder Cup were shortened after the in-form Billy Horschel and Chris Kirk were left out of America's team by captain Tom Watson, but captain Paul McGinley said his team's enhanced favourite tag counts for nothing.
• "My one big worry is that this is top-level sport and in top-level sport anything can happen," McGinley said. "And that's always a concern. My job as captain is to minimise the chances of that happening. But as we all know in top-level sport, it can happen."

"What have I been doing at home? I've been vanishing," Westwood said. "I've lost 23lb, doing double gym sessions - cardio in the morning and weights in the afternoon. I've been off the alcohol and been watching my diet."

Westwood's inclusion in Europe's Ryder Cup team has been met with a mixed reaction following his indifferent run of form during the summer, which included a first stage exit at the PGA Tour's end-of-season play-offs.

However, Westwood said he will have the perfect preparation by playing at Celtic Manor on Thursday, the home of Europe's last Ryder Cup triumph on European soil four years ago.

"I don't think there's a better place than Celtic Manor for me to play before the Ryder Cup," Westwood said.

"I like to play the week before an important event and this course is similar to Gleneagles. And for it coincidentally to be where we won the last Ryder Cup on European soil is a great little tie-in and gives you a good feeling mentally, as well. Yeah, it made complete sense to play here."

Westwood was due to partner Ryder Cup team-mate Jamie Donaldson at Celtic Manor after a request from European captain Paul McGinley, which may be a hint the pair could tee-off together next week at Gleneagles.

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