LEE WESTWOOD has blasted the Ryder Cup scramble that has left him and several other European stars sweating on their places for Whistling Straits.
Bernd Wiesberger looks certain to replace Rory McIlroy in fourth place on the European points list, after a second round 67 at the BMW PGA Championship hoisted him into the top twenty.
The Austrian ace only needs a top fifty finish at Wentworth to leapfrog above McIlroy, which means the four-time major champion would qualify from the world ranking points category instead.
If that happens it will be at the expense of either Matthew Fitzpatrick, Westwood, or Shane Lowry, the men occupying the final three places on the world list.
And with Justin Rose also mounting a strong challenge for an automatic spot, there could be an even bigger shake-up by Sunday night.
Westwood, bidding for an 11th appearance in European colours, believes the stress is something Europe’s top players could do without, less than two weeks before they do battle with the Americans at Whistling Straits.
He said: “There’s so many variables with the way we’ve set up the qualification this time around. This tournament is heavily loaded compared to everything else we’ve done, and I think it’s something to maybe look at in the future.
“I think some of the guys turning up here don’t need this right now, so close to the Ryder Cup, knowing what that is going to be like. This is going to be draining for a few, and you want to be going into the Ryder Cup fresh.
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“You can see how players are reacting to it out on the golf course. They are here to compete, and to try to win a massive tournament, but they have obviously got other things on their minds.
“Having said that, I’ve played with Shane the first two days, and he’s managed to block everything out well and play well. That makes Shane Lowry the kind of player that you want on your Ryder Cup team.”
At eight under par, Lowry is four shots behind Kiradech Aphirbarnrat, while Rose is a shot closer to the halfway leader.
At four under par, Westwood needs a good weekend to be sure of holding onto his automatic spot.
Fitzpatrick has a decent lead over his world points rivals, but he is a shot further back, and cannot afford to take anything for granted.
Rose’s twenty footer for birdie at the final hole earned the biggest cheer of the day. Even if he does not come from way back to make the team on merit, he is certainly pushing his claims for one of Padraig Harrington’s wildcards.
