Westwood dismisses Ryder 'hate'

Westwood has played in four Ryder Cups

Lee Westwood has rejected a claim by Chris DiMarco that there is "hatred" in the biennial Ryder Cup matches.

The American made the comment during last week's Presidents Cup team event, where the US beat the Internationals.

But former European number one Westwood said: "Hatred? Well not from our side, so it must be from theirs.

"How a 'veteran' of one Ryder Cup can say that is beyond me. If he thought it was bad in Detroit in 2004, he should have been in Boston in 1999."

DiMarco is remembered for urging on the crowd with pugnacious fist-pumping during last year's record win by Europe.

But Westwood said that "passion" to win should not be mistaken for hatred.

"It doesn't exist. There is no hatred in the Ryder Cup," said the 32-year-old Briton ahead of the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

"It's just very competitive and you want to beat your opponents. But at the end of the day, you could have sat down and had a beer with them."

The word 'hate' has, however, been used by one European player.

Westwood's fellow Englishman Paul Casey was reported as saying last year that he "properly hated" Americans when playing against them in the Ryder Cup.

But Westwood added: "Paul was condemned for what he said at the start of the year, but Chris said it on TV, where your words can't be misrepresented."