Lee and Darren bound for Medinah
Article posted: 25 September 2012
Nerves are great, as long as you know how to handle them
Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke head to Chicago this week for the 39th Ryder Cup match at Medinah Country Club.
Westwood will represent Europe for the eighth time, while Clarke has been selected as one of José María Olazábal’s four vice-captains.
One of the greatest ever Ryder Cup players, Westwood has been on the winning side five times since making his debut in 1997.
"I have a good Ryder Cup record because I enjoy match play," said Westwood. "I hit a lot of fairways and greens and don’t give too many holes away.
"The set-up also tends to be very demanding, which I like. At matchplay you just have to know when to attack and when to defend. Over time, you learn how to do that, and how to read the game.
"Sometimes pars are great, and they are going to win you holes. Sometimes you need to go across and put your arm around your partner and say middle of the green is not going to be bad here. And other times you need to attack.
"There’s a special intensity about the Ryder Cup. We arrive early in the week, and we obviously don’t get started until the Friday, and as a result there’s a buzz of anticipation, and big crowds.
"But, it’s a good nervous excitement. Nerves are great, as long as you know how to handle them."
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