Westwood happy to be Hazeltine mentor

Lee Westwood has revealed he anticipates being paired with a European rookie in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine later this month.

The Englishman will tee it up for the 10th time as a European player when Darren Clarke’s team face Davis Love’s United States in Minnesota from September 30 to October 2.

The European team has no less than six rookies – Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas Pieters – and Westwood says he is likely to be paired with some of the new men.

An all-English pairing with Masters champion Danny Willett has been mooted in some quarters but, for now, Westwood is not willing to name any names.

The 43-year-old has said it is clear that Clarke feels his experience can benefit the team, having given him a captain’s pick alongside Martin Kaymer and Pieters.

“Myself and Darren have spoken about it and I guess, [with him] picking me and stating my experience, he’s thinking of putting me with a rookie,” he added.

“But other than that I’m not divulging too much.” The former world number one is in Milan this week for the Italian Open and will take next week off to rest before the Ryder Cup.

“It’s just getting that fine line between not being tired when you go into a big event and being sharp at the same time,” Westwood added.

“Everybody has a different way of doing it, you just have to find out what that is over the years.

I’ve been out here for over 23 years and I still don’t know what it is for me.”

Europe are 2.80 to win the Ryder Cup while the USA are 1.53 to make home advantage count. The draw is 11.00.