LIV Golf: Lee Westwood says Ryder Cup chances should not be threatened

Lee Westwood took part in LIV Golf's first event at the Centurion Club in June

Lee Westwood says he does not believe his chance of playing in the Ryder Cup will be affected by his involvement in the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf series.

England's Westwood has made a record-equalling 11 Ryder Cup appearances for Europe.

"Why should it be threatened?" he said.

"I've been playing Ryder Cup golf since 1997 and the criteria has been to be a member of the European Tour [now the DP World Tour].

"I've been a member of the PGA Tour and still played four events on the European Tour, and why would the European Tour change their rules so dramatically because another tour doesn't like it or feels financially threatened?

"As long as you fulfil the criteria to be a European Tour member, then you should still have the opportunity to try and qualify for the Ryder Cup team."

• All you need to know about the LIV Golf series

European players need to be a member of the DP World Tour to be eligible to play in the biennial event, which will next be contested in Rome in September 2023, while Americans need to be members of the PGA Tour.

Spain's Sergio Garcia, 42, Europe's all-time leading points scorer, added: "I hope that I still have the possibility, as I'm sure they do, too, to be a part of a few more Ryder Cup teams, but that's not going to depend on us now."

Westwood 'disappointed' by DP World Tour

Westwood resigned from the PGA Tour to take part in the first LIV event in Centurion Club near London earlier this month, with the governing body suspending all members who took part.

The DP World Tour banned players who took part from playing in next month's Scottish Open and fined them £100,000.

It also warned players that "participation in a further conflicting tournament or tournaments without the required release may incur further sanctions".

"I personally am disappointed with the European Tour's approach," added Westwood.

"I've been a European Tour member for 29 years and for some of those years I have also been a member of the PGA tour and as long as I've played my four events the European Tour haven't had a problem with me playing anywhere else and now it seems to be a problem.

"As far as fines and sanctions, I'm disappointed."