Ian Woosnam not hopeful of Ryder Cup place

Former U.S. Masters champion Ian Woosnam says his current form does not bode well for making Europe's Ryder Cup team for Oakland Hills in September.

When the 46-year-old Briton lost out on the captaincy to Bernhard Langer last year he vowed to do his utmost to make the team as a player.

Woosnam languishes at 54 on the European Ryder Cup standings and 71 on the world list and believes his chances of securing one of five automatic qualification places from each are slim.

"I'm too old and too knackered," Woosnam said on Thursday after shooting a one-under-par 71 to lie four strokes off the Algarve Portuguese Open first round lead.

"At the moment, the way I'm playing, I can't see how I can make the team.

"Your game does change, though, so we'll have to wait and see. But I need to move up the world rankings to have any chance.

"I'm struggling to get the right flight on the ball and, even though I'm not a very long hitter now, I may have to sacrifice 15 yards length to get some accuracy back."

Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion, is the only player at Penina this week who will be playing at Augusta in the first major of the season which starts on April 8.

The Welshman hopes to end a run of three successive missed cuts in the major.

"While I'm looking forward to being back at Augusta, I'm a bit worried about getting over those banks," he said referring to the hilly course.

This years news archive | Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page