Lee Westwood: 'I'm not thinking about Ryder Cup'

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.