• Ryder Cup

Tiger rescued me from Ryder Cup heartache - Westwood

ESPN staff
September 27, 2010
Lee Westwood is grateful for Tiger Woods' advice © Getty Images
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Lee Westwood has revealed that Tiger Woods' advice saved him from missing the Ryder Cup, which gets underway at Celtic Manor on Friday.

When the duo were paired at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in August, Woods warned a struggling Westwood that he would face at least six months out if he carried on playing with a ruptured calf.

The Brit took heed of the advice and withdrew from the tournament, a decision he credits with salvaging his hopes of playing at the Ryder Cup.

Westwood has not played a competitive round since WGC Bridgestone, but he insists he is now in peak condition as Europe attempts to snatch the trophy back from America.

"Tiger could see I was suffering a bit, and he said to me 'God you're stubborn'," Westwood told the Sun. "He could see I was limping and told me if I didn't take a break I could end up missing six months or more, like he did when he played on with a knee injury and a stress fracture at the 2008 US Open.

"We were in the same group that day as well, and I remember Tiger gritting his teeth after every shot. It was worth it in his case, because he'd won at Torrey Pines half a dozen times before, and knew he'd have to undergo surgery anyway. But he said I was running the the risk of making things a lot worse.

"It was a tough decision, because the US PGA Championship was a week away, and after finishing second in the Masters and Open this year I was desperate to go one better. But it was good advice.

"If I hadn't listened there is no way I'd have been able to play in this Ryder Cup. Now I'm going to try to repay him by helping send the Americans home empty-handed."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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