Lee Westwood: My life in pictures

SEVE’S SENORS

Valderrama, Spain | 24 September 1997

“My first Ryder Cup… and just look at the state of everybody’s hair! Thomas Bjorn’s actually got hair in this picture! You wouldn’t recognise him. That was a great Ryder Cup, though. It was my first one and I had practice rounds with Woosie, Monty, Langer, Faldo, and Seve was stood there watching it all. It was a bit surreal. Just four years previous, I’d been at The Belfry as a spectator and then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, I was there teeing it up with them. I got paired with Faldo for four rounds, which was amazing. He’d been a big hero of mine and then, like I say, next thing I know, I’m stood having a team photograph taken with him. It wasn’t your typical week, for sure. Seve was great, too. If he could have come out and played the shots for us, I’m sure he would have done so gladly. He was an incredible competitor.”

TALKIN’ TIGER

Ardmore, Pennsylvania | 11 June 2013

“I get on alright with Tiger. I don’t know if anybody knows him particularly well. He has typically kept himself to himself but he’s always been pleasant with me any time we’ve chatted. We have a decent working relationship, I’d say. As for what he’s done for the sport, the interest in golf has gone up countless amounts since he’s come into the game. People from all different races and walks of life are interested in golf now because of Tiger. He drives the game along, really. Whenever he plays, the television viewing figures shoot up. You can’t understate how big he has been for the game. I don’t like to say he’s the best player of all time because it’s hard to compare different eras, but he’s in the top two, isn’t he?

KING OF EUROPE

Dubai, UAE | 22 November 2009

“It’s hard to put into words how much it means to win the Race To Dubai. Obviously, I’d won the old Order of Merit back in 2000 but 2009 was the first year of it being the Race To Dubai. I think the picture sums it up nicely. Winning tournaments is brilliant and something you never take for granted but winning the Race To Dubai is a reward for playing great golf not just for four days but for an entire season. It’s a long old season these days and it’s takes a lot of hard work and commitment to keep your game firing all cylinders all year long, so that was a special moment. Obviously, it’s always nice to be the first to do something as well, so to be the first person to have my name on the trophy was great, too.”