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Westwood admits rest may be best

Lee Westwood has looked good in practice this week © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood has insisted he is fit enough to play five rounds at the Ryder Cup, but hinted Europe captain Colin Montgomerie may get the best out of him by giving him a rest at some stage.

Westwood is Europe's highest-ranked player and will move up to No. 2 in the world on Monday. However, he could be forgiven for being a shade rusty as he has not played a competitive round of golf since pulling out of the Bridgestone Invitational at the start of August on account of a leg injury.

The Englishman claims it was only in the last few weeks that he was able to think positively about playing at Celtic Manor, but he is now ready to go into the heat of battle.

"I am feeling good, looking forward to this week," Westwood said at a press conference on Thursday morning. "I have worked hard to get here and am pleased to be here. There was a bit of doubt, when you go through rehab some weeks it is quick and others not, so it was only in the last few weeks when I started putting weight through it and hitting more balls that I could start thinking about playing and getting emotionally up for it."

Westwood, who will partner Rory McIlroy in practice on Thursday, is convinced he will cope with the demands of playing 90 holes but admitted it may be better for him to sit out one of the rounds.

"I don't have any real concerns," he said. "I have played well in practice so can't see how that will change when the matches start. As for the course, it is a tough one to come back to. It is heavy underfoot and is hilly in places and 36 holes a day, I would have liked to break myself in with a tournament, but that was not possible.

"I don't know how it is going to react, but I would not be here if I did not think I could play five matches. I don't know if Monty will play me in all five, but we have strong enough depth to maybe rest players.

"It is a tough course physically and maybe the plan is to rest players. I am not as young as I used to where I could get five games in a week easily. Maybe the best way to get the maximum out of me is to play me in four. We will have to see what Monty thinks. But if I did not think I could play five I would not be here."

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