• PGA Tour

Westy fears losing focus in battle with Tiger

ESPN staff
October 6, 2010
Lee Westwood impressed at the Ryder Cup © Getty Images
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Betting tips: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Lee Westwood admits that the stresses of the Ryder Cup will make it difficult for him to refocus on his battle with Tiger Woods for the world No. 1 spot.

The 37-year-old tees it up this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - which arrives just three days after Europe won at Celtic Manor - knowing that he will reach the top of the rankings with a top-two finish.

While Woods has struggled to recapture his best form this year - he is without a win in 2010 - Westwood has finished as runner-up in two major championships.

But Westwood insists he has a fight on his hands if he is to end Woods' 278-week run as world No. 1. "Mentally it's quite hard to refocus after such a big weekend, it's very demanding," he said.

Westwood admits that capturing the No. 1 spot was beyond his wildest dreams when he plummeted down the rankings following a dismal period in the early part of the decade. "When you get to four and then fall to 250, your goal is to get back to where you were - you're not saying I want to be better," he said. "When you're at 250, you'll just about take anything."

Elsewhere, Francesco Molinari has thrown his weight behind Jose Maria Olazabal's bid to become European Ryder Cup captain in 2012. "I think he did a great job with us last week, he is a great guy with an unbelievable Ryder Cup history so I think he might be the next captain," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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