• Ryder Cup

Westwood thrilled with playing return

ESPN staff
September 16, 2010
Lee Westwood played another practice round on Thursday © Getty Images
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Lee Westwood played 18 holes for the first time in six weeks on Wednesday and came off the course with a huge sense of relief.

The European No. 1 is looking to prove his fitness ahead of the Ryder Cup, which gets underway on October 1, having been sidelined with a leg injury since the Bridgestone Invitational at the start of August.

His coach Pete Cowen said this week that the 37-year-old was ahead of schedule, nipping concerns about Westwood's fitness in the bud, and the world No. 3 looked on good terms with himself at a corporate event.

"Never have I been so excited about a Jaguar corporate day," he said. "I was a bit rusty, but I had six birdies and an eagle - in a 30mph wind."

Westwood will take part in a two-day charity event next week and will play 36 holes in one day to try to replicate Ryder Cup conditions and he maintained he will be ready to face the American team.

"That's for my own piece of mind really," he told PA Sport. "If the Ryder Cup was a week earlier I would have made it, but coming when it does I could just take my time and ease my way into it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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