Wildcard pick Lee Westwood will warm up for The 2014 Ryder Cup with his first appearance for a decade in the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
Westwood decided to return to The Celtic Manor Resort, the scene of Europe’s nail-biting victory over their American counterparts in 2010, to tune up for the biennial battle as soon as he received one of Captain Paul McGinley’s three wild cards.
Westwood, who will be making his ninth Ryder Cup appearance at The Gleneagles Hotel at the end of the month, said: “I can’t remember the last time I was as excited as I am now about playing in a regular Tour event.
“The ISPS Handa Wales Open had always been in the back of my mind as long as I made the team, and now that I have, that’s where I’ll be. It’s going to be a great week and perfect preparation.
“From everything I know and have heard, it’s going to be the ideal place to play the week before The Ryder Cup. Paul’s attention to detail will ensure we are all perfectly prepared wherever we are coming from, but I’m thrilled that Wales will be my starting point.”
The 41 year old also believes that the galleries at The Celtic Manor Resort will give the players a taste of what to expect at Gleneagles the following week.
“The Welsh crowds are very knowledgeable and also very vocal in their support,” he said. “The 2010 event was played in atrocious conditions but I’ve never heard so much noise from so many drenched people in my life.
“Hopefully we’ll get a bit of sunshine this time. But whatever the weather, I know I’m going to enjoy myself and hopefully head further north with another win in the bag, and be ready for anything the Americans can throw at us.”
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