Westwood's captaincy ambition

Lee Westwood has admitted he would relish the chance to be a Ryder Cup captain - but not just yet.

Westwood, who helped Europe to an astonishing comeback victory at the Medinah Country Club in September last year, hopes to add to his eight appearances in the competition before contemplating leading the team.

He said: "I would love to be the captain of the Ryder Cup team. That would be a great honour.

"There have been some fantastic Ryder Cup captains and it would be lovely to follow in their footsteps.

"But I plan on playing in a few more just before that."

Westwood's comments came as he played in a Ryder Cup-style competition to mark the official opening of the Lee Westwood Filly Course at Close House Golf Club near Wylam in Northumberland, two days after he saw a two-shot lead slip away at the Open at Muirfield as Phil Mickelson overhauled him to take the title.

Westwood, who is yet to win one of the majors, said: "Obviously, I was a little bit disappointed not to play well on the last day and to win the Open Championship, but as a golfer, you have to take the positives out whenever you can.

"You don't win very often and it was a top-three (finish) in another major championship.

"I didn't feel like I had my best game but I still had a two-shot lead going into the final round, so that's a positive."