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Westwood right to snub PGA Tour riches

Lee Westwood will look to vindicate his decision to stay in Europe with a major win © Getty Images

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The giant shadow of the PGA Tour is hanging over the European Tour, with Graeme McDowell committing to playing Stateside in 2011 and Martin Kaymer sitting on the fence ahead of a decision in a few weeks' time.

It is a blow for European golf that two of its star names have had their heads turned by the almighty dollar, so it was refreshing to see Lee Westwood resist the temptation and stay loyal to the European Tour. Westwood is the European No. 1 and on October 31 will topple Tiger Woods as the world's best player - unless he is headed off at the Andalucia Masters by Kaymer. Playing in Europe has got Westwood to the brink of the top spot in world golf and partly through loyalty to the Tour and partly through loyalty to his family, he has opted to follow the same schedule as in previous years.

He said: "Chubby [Westwood's manager Andrew Chandler] said, 'Why would you take membership in the States when you have been the most successful player in the world this year until the injury and you have still got a great chance to go to world No. 1?

"'You have come second in two major championships, you must be doing something right, why not stick to the same schedule?'

"I don't want to get into the situation where I have to play events in America just to make 15. The FedEx Cup sits right in the middle of the kids' summer holidays and I like going on holiday with them for a couple of weeks. I don't want to be dictated to by having to play, having to go to America to play FedEx Cup when it doesn't really mean that much to me."

It is to Westwood's credit that he does not see a need to chase the $10m pot of gold that is on offer for the winner of the PGA Tour's flagship event - the FedEx Cup. The 34-year-old has made a great living out of golf and will continue to do so by playing the majority of his golf in Europe, so he has absolutely no need to chase the greenback.

As his manager has said: "You have come second in two major championships, you must be doing something right."

This is the case and next year could be a pivotal one for Westwood as what is missing from his CV is a major win. Westwood finished second at the Masters and Open this year, while he also has third-place finishes at the US Open and US PGA Championship under his belt.

Phil Mickelson pipped Westwood to the green jacket at the Masters © Getty Images

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He clearly is doing something right, but at some stage he needs to turn those challenging positions at the majors into a win. If he can do it next year, it will vindicate his decision to remain loyal to the European Tour. If he again falls short, Westwood may be forced to rethink his schedule.

There is no doubt that playing regularly on the PGA Tour against the majority of the world's leading stars would steel him for the challenges of major championships, three of which are played on US soil, but may be able to scale those heights under his own steam. And doing so would also silence those who claim he is not worthy of the world's No. 1 spot.

Tiger Woods is No. 1 in name only at the moment, he has played like a single-figure handicapper at times, while Phil Mickelson has wilted under the pressure of trying to get to the No. 1 spot. As such, it is clear that Westwood has been far and away the best player on either tour this year. Prior to his leg injury, Westwood strung together a series of fine results and his golf was, on a consistent basis, far ahead of his peers. Yes he has not won a major, but there are a host of players who have won majors who have disappeared into the wilderness just as fast.

Golfers crave major titles, but there are others who feel the No. 1 spot is just as coveted - just ask Mickelson - and if Westwood gets there it is down to his commitment and quality and will be richly deserved.

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