Lee Westwood has insisted that he is not thinking about the Ryder Cup after making an impressive start to the US PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The 41-year-old, who is currently outside the automatic qualifying places for the European team, earned a share of the lead in the final Major of the year with a six-under-par 65 on Thursday, and he claims that his focus is only on achieving success this weekend.
"I think Paul already knows what I have got," Westwood told Sky Sports News. "I think this week is more about it being a Major championship and trying to win a major championship, and playing well this week.
"I have always felt like the Ryder Cup comes as a consequence of playing well, and there is only ever any point thinking about the Ryder Cup when you have actually made the team.
"So I break it down bit by bit – I am not smart enough to focus on two things at once - and I am just concentrating on the PGA Championship and trying to win my first Major."
Westwood was joined by Ryan Palmer and Kevin Chappell at the top of the leaderboard on Thursday.
