Friday 37 Sports Friday, May 22, 2020 England’s Lee Westwood says fans ‘essential’ to Ryder Cup Shutdown has played havoc with Cup qualifying NEW YORK: England’s Lee Westwood, in line A Ryder Cup postponement to 2021 “may be to play in his 11th Ryder Cup, says spectators are needed” rather than playing without spectators, “essential” to the US-Europe golf showdown Westwood said. The Englishman played for despite the possibility of empty stands due to seven Cup winners in 10 playing appearances, COVID-19. earning 23 points with a best of 4.5 in a 2004 Westwood, a vice captain two years ago winning effort. when Europe won the trophy in France, told The The shutdown has played havoc with Cup Golf Channel he cannot see staging the event qualifying, although Westwood is on the current without the emotional responses spectators list for European captain Padraig Harrington bring to the rivalry. after a January European Tour triumph at Abu “I just don’t see somebody holing the winning Dhabi. “We might have to modify it a little bit,” putt, from either side, on the 18th green or wher- Westwood said of the team roster selection ever it may be, turning to an empty stand, raising process. “I think Padraig is pleased with the way his hands in the air and it feeling the same,” the team’s shaping up, and the way that qualify- Westwood said in a Wednesday posting on the ing has gone. network website. “It’s never going to feel the “But at the same point, there are people on same, with what’s going on, but if any tourna- the outside that would have been some of the fa- ment needs fans, it’s that tournament. Just for me, vorites to get in there. It’s a difficult one.” the fans are essential for the Ryder Cup.” European fans could have a tough time at- The 43rd Ryder Cup remains scheduled for tending the Ryder Cup if two-week US entry September 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, quarantines remain in place. FLORIDA: File photo shows Lee Westwood of England plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final Wisconsin, and no decisions about spectators With another 14-day isolation awaiting West- round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa Champion course on March 1, 2020 in Palm have been announced in a season that has seen wood on his return to England, the 47-year-old Beach Gardens. — AFP golf shut down by the coronavirus pandemic. isn’t planning a trip over to compete right away In a rearranged global schedule, the British even with the European Tour off until at least Open was cancelled and three majors in the late July. His top-50 status would allow him into severe.” Westwood, a 12-time top-five finisher in “It’s a tough situation. We can’t afford any- United States moved to later in the year. World the next two US PGA Tour events. majors without a victory, is set to host the Eu- thing to go wrong and this virus to spread any number one Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland “It’s six weeks for two tournaments, and to ropean Tour’s British Masters July 30-August 2. more than it has done,” Westwood said. “People and US star Brooks Koepka, ranked third, also me that’s just not worth it,” Westwood said. “It’s If the quarantine is still in place and events want something to watch, and it’s a good way to questioned staging a Ryder Cup without fans, as not worth taking the risk if everybody thinks that are played as planned, he would miss the PGA kick-start your economy, but also we don’t want the first four US PGA Tour return events are set those kind of precautions have got to be in Championship, set for the following week at TPC a second wave (of the virus), so we have to make to have next month. place. I don’t feel like golf’s a priority if it’s that Harding Park in San Francisco. sure we’re very, very safe.” —AFP Fitness a priority for champ Mansour during Ramadan KUWAIT: The aspirations of athlete Mansour Al Safran is upheld by his continuing dedication to his fitness goals. And he fully be- lieves that in Ramadan it is ever more important to meet these goals, no matter what the external circumstances may be. He is no different from others who train for a purpose. The uni- versal challenge remains overcoming unavoidable factors. “This year, Ramadan is different for all of us,” said Mansour Al Safran. “We have to adapt not only when it comes to our fitness, but to other goals as well.” Al Safran also stressed the importance of a clean and balanced diet. During iftar, Mansour doesn’t use the occasion as a reason to feast. “I’ll have something light at first,” said Al Safran. “After the second workout I’ll have a bigger meal, once I’ve hydrated properly.” After a long day of fasting and working out, he doesn’t want to overload his body with food and drink. His full Ramadan schedule on a training day has him workout before iftar, usually with some cardio exercises. He does this for an hour and breaks his fast. After a few hours he does a second workout, where he focuses on mobility training, and has his big meal of the day. “Since I am not able to ride my BMX as much as I used to,” said Al Safran. “I supplement with the kinds of workouts I can do at home.” He eats plenty of fruits and is sustained by a low-carb diet. Mansour Al Safran is a BMX champion. He lives and trains in Kuwait. To find out more about Mansour Al Safran, visit @man- souralsafran on Instagram.