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 | | | | | | Quick Facts | | | Birthdate: 24 April 1973 | | Birthplace: Worksop, UK | | | Age: 29 Ht: 6ft (183 cm) Wt: 15st (95kg) | | | Home: Worksop | | | Country: England | | | Turned Professional: 1993 (plus 4) | | | |
| Ryder Cup | | | (2) 1997, 1999 | | European Tour Victories | | |
(14) 1996 Volvo Scandinavian Masters; 1997 Volvo Masters; 1998 Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe, National Car Rental English Open, Standard Life Loch Lomond, Belgacom Open; 1999 TNT Dutch Open, Smurfit European Open, Canon European Masters; 2000 Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe, Compaq European Grand Prix, Smurfit European Open, Volvo Scandinavian Masters, Belgacom Open, Cisco World Match Play Championship* (*approved special event)
| | Player Notes | |
Lee Westwood may only be playing his third Ryder Cup but the 2000 European Number One could well be one of the key figures in Sam Torrance's team in Europe's bid to regain the Ryder Cup at The De Vere Belfry.
Five years ago at Valderrama, Westwood made his debut as a fresh faced 24 year old and the captain Seve Ballesteros immediately placed him under the wing of the most experienced Ryder Cup player of all time, six time Major Championship winner Nick Faldo.
The English pair formed a solid partnership with Faldo, the teacher, and Westwood, the eager pupil. The partnership was based on respect and recognition - Westwood's respect for the most accomplished golfer Britain has ever produced, and Faldo's recognition of Westwood's abundance of talent and potential.
They lost their opening fourball match by the minimum margin to Fred Couples and Brad Faxon but fought back in the afternoon foursomes to lead Justin Leonard and Jeff Maggert by two up with three to play when darkness fell on the rain-affected opening day and play was suspended.
The next morning Westwood showed he possessed something special, holing the ten foot birdie putt that he had all night to ponder to win the match and post the first point of the day for the European side.
It was a momentous occasion in more ways than one. It gave the 24 year old his first point in the Ryder Cup and also cemented a second great landmark for Faldo, who by playing in his 11th Ryder Cup was already a record breaker. Westwood's putt took Faldo's points tally to 24, overtaking Billy Casper's record of 23 ½.
That point opened the floodgates as Europe tore through the United States side that day and went on to win the trophy. Westwood, on his debut, played all five matches, securing two valuable points.
Two years on there was no Faldo and Westwood needed no guiding arm. His game had moved on to the next level having won eight titles worldwide in 1998 and three more in 1999 prior to The Country Club at Brookline.
Captain Mark James partnered him with his close friend Darren Clarke and the pair formed the bedrock of the European team over the first two days, playing all four series of matches together and securing two points out of a possible four, including a famous victory of Tiger Woods and David Duval on the opening day fourballs.
On the final day Westwood was sent out first, underlining the high regard in which he was held by his captain, but the Herculean effort of the first two days in the most pressurised arena in sport had taken its toll and Westwood lost to an in-form Tom Lehman as the American team began the greatest comeback in the history of the Ryder Cup.
This year Westwood arrives at The De Vere Belfry with 24 tournament victories worldwide to his name. He has made a meteoric rise on the world stage since his Ryder Cup debut five years ago and is likely to play a pivotal role within the European team once again.
Background
Rounded off the 2000 season in which he moved to the World's Number Five by finishing runner-up to Mike Weir of Canada in the WGC-American Express Championship to secure his first Volvo Order of Merit crown, so ending Colin Montgomerie's seven-year tenure at the top. Won seven times in total, and equalled the European Tour record of six victories in a year, with a new record of €3,125,146 (£1,858,602) to his name. In the process he edged his close friend and stable-mate, Darren Clarke, into second place after a dramatic race which went down to the wire. During 2000 Westwood won the Dimension Data Pro-Am tournament in South Africa before going on to emulate the feats of Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Montgomerie by winning six times in Europe. Had broken through in America in 1998 by taking the Freeport McDermott Classic. Took up game aged 13 with a half set bought by grandparents. Maths teacher father, John, took up game at same time to give his son encouragement. Talented sportsman at school, played rugby, cricket and soccer. Supports Nottingham Forest FC. Married Laurae Coltart, sister of another Ryder Cup player, Andrew, in January 1999. Has now won on every continent after collecting the Dimension Data Pro-Am (partnering his dad) in South Africa in January 2000. Returned to South Africa in December 2000 and was pipped by Ernie Els in a play-off for the $2 million prize in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Took a significant break from the game at the start of 2001 following the birth of his first son Samuel Bevan.
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| W - L - T | Points | | 3 - 2 - 0 | 3 |
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Lee Westwood
