• Bridgestone Invitational

Westwood undecided on future

Lee Westwood could become world No. 1 for the first time this weekend © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood has admitted he is in two minds whether to join the PGA Tour next season.

Last year's Race to Dubai winner has been one of the most consistent players this year, with eight top-ten finishes and second place at both the Masters and the Open Championship. A string of impressive results, including victory at the St Jude Classic, has seen him climb to a career-high No. 3 in the world.

And victory at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational this weekend could see him knock Tiger Woods off the world No. 1 spot, and become the first British man to top the rankings since Sir Nick Faldo in 1994.

Westwood is currently in talks with the PGA Tour's Sid Wilson, who is keen to convince the the Brit to sign up to the US Tour. However, despite the higher prize money on offer, Westwood is still undecided on his future. Membership of the PGA Tour would require him to play at least 15 tournaments in America.

"It's about 50-50 and I'll decide around the time of the Ryder Cup," he said in the Daily Mail. "I can see the arguments for joining but I want to stay loyal to Europe as well. The last thing I want is to have to make a trip over here to make up the numbers when there's an event going on in Europe that I like."

Victory at Firestone this weekend would see Westwood take over the top spot for the first time, providing Woods is not the runner-up. A second-place finish would also be enough to leapfrog Woods should the defending champion finish outside the top nine and world No. 2 Phil Mickelson fails to win the event.

Westwood has been paired with the man he could replace at top of the rankings for the opening two rounds, and he is relishing his opportunity.

"If they'd asked me who would I like to play with for the first two rounds it would have been Tiger," Westwood said. "It's the perfect draw for me, for many reasons. Playing with Tiger makes you focus more, and that's what I need after a fortnight away from the game.

"I think he likes playing with me, too. A lot of players act differently when they're around him but my caddie Billy [Foster] and I take the mickey out of him and he returns in kind. It's probably what he needs right now, with everything that's going on in his life."

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