Westwood hard done by over my World Cup withdrawal - Willett

15 November 2016 08:23

Danny Willett believes it is unfair that his withdrawal from next week's World Cup in Australia has also cost Lee Westwood his debut in the event.

Masters champion Willett pulled out of the event on Friday as he did not want to risk aggravating an ongoing back problem by competing at Kingston Heath in Melbourne.

That meant Justin Rose, as the next highest-ranked player from the original standings used at the end of the US PGA Championship, was invited to compete, only for the Olympic champion to also be ruled out by a back injury.

Rose's Ryder Cup team-mate Chris Wood was next in line and - under tournament rules - able to select the partner of his choice, the 28-year-old from Bristol choosing fellow Hazeltine debutant Andy Sullivan.

"Obviously when the guys have booked their flights I think it's not quite right just because one guy pulls out that the other guy has to kind of withdraw without having a say in it," Willett said ahead of the DP World Tour Championship, where he could win the Race to Dubai for the first time.

"I think you just then go down the list and see which guy potentially wants to play. With such short notice, I don't see why they have switched it around and made it two brand new guys.

"It was a decision made purely within my best interests going forward. And unfortunately the backlash is the Westy situation. I just think it was a bit unfair for that tournament to kind of go about it the way they did.

"I spoke to Westy and I apologised. Westy has been pretty good about it and it was a shame how it ended because we were both looking forward to going down there and pairing up."

Asked if he was expecting a bill from Westwood for his wasted airline tickets, Willett joked: " You never know. If we have a good week this week I'll be able to buy him a bottle of wine for Christmas."

Source: PA