Woosnam has sights on Ryder Cup

Ian Woosnam believes he has what it takes to qualify for Europe's Ryder Cup team for the ninth successive time.

The 41-year-old Welshman enjoyed his best finish of the year with a tie for fifth place in last week's Novotel Perrier Open de France in Bordeaux.

A third-round 66 gave him a chance of a first tournament victory since he won the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth in 1997.

Although the expected late charge in the final round never quite materialised, Woosnam headed for this week's lucrative Benson & Hedges tournament at The Oxfordshire with his sights firmly set on making Mark James' side to defend the Ryder Cup trophy against America in Boston in September.

"I've looked at the Ryder Cup table and I can't find out where I am," said the 1991 Masters champion, who currently lies just 31st in the points table.

"But if I win a tournament in the next few weeks with these big events coming up I'll be right in the Ryder Cup reckoning. I feel I'm just coming into form and I've got a lot of tournaments to go. One win and who knows.

"I seem to have fixed a problem with my shoulder, where I tore the rotor cuff in my left shoulder.

"Trying to play with it was stupid, really. It came from wear and tear, not swinging the club well and lifting a suitcase the wrong way.

"I took a couple of weeks' rest, and it came good all of a sudden and I started playing well and did well last week."

If Woosnam should fail to qualify automatically for the team by finishing in the top 10 in the points standings, he would be a strong contender for one of two wild cards available to European captain James, given his previous record when competing in every event since 1983.

He has won 10 out of 14 fourball matches - more than any other European - and despite failing to win any of his eight singles matches he has earned a great reputation as a team man, often playing a vital role supporting rookies such as Paul Way and Peter Baker.

"My individual record has not been good in the Ryder Cup, but my World Matchplay record is good," said Woosnam.

"My fourballs record is better than anyone else's, and I'd like to think I'm a good team player.

"It's up to the captain to pick me, but if I'm playing really well at the time I would say I've got to be considered.

"Obviously if I'm not playing well then it is a no go, but I'm hoping to play my way into the team.

"I've got a lot of tournaments from here on in, five in a row from here. I haven't got an invite to the US Open but I have entered the English Open."

TRW