Lee Westwood fears the race for the final Ryder Cup places at the Johnnie Walker Championships is being turned into a lottery by the brutal Gleneagles greens.

The tournament in Scotland, which started on Thursday, is the final chance for the likes of Oliver Wilson, in the 10th and last automatic qualifying spot entering the week, Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty to secure their place in Nick Faldo's European team.

The Europeans will be bidding to win a record fourth straight contest at Valhalla in Kentucky from September 19-21.

But former European number one Westwood, who finished with a one under par 72, four shots behind French leader Gregory Havret, is uncomfortable with the testing nature of the greens.

"I said last year that the greens were awful and something needed to be done," said Westwood, who is already guaranteed his place.

"I'm not a bad putter and I can't remember the last time I three-putted from 18 inches.

"At the end of the week unfortunately the tournament could be won or lost by luck on the greens.

"The guys going for the Ryder Cup are the people I feel really sorry for. There is a lot riding on that.

"They are going to be feeling pressure as it is and you don't want to be standing over a three-footer with so much doubt in your mind not knowing if the ball is going to run straight."

Wilson managed only a three over 76, but so did Kaymer after losing a ball at the 320-yard 14th and taking six there.

Fisher did better with a 72, but he has to finish third to have a chance, while Dougherty, who needs first or second place, battled away for a 73.

"Must do better," Wilson said. "The greens are not overly smooth, but I felt I was a little bit unlucky, every time I hit it in the rough I got a bad lie.

"I don't think I've blown myself out of it. I could have done, but I didn't."

Dougherty, who like Kaymer has had the trauma of losing his mother in the past few months, admits he is mentally exhausted.

"Even if someone has to cart me into the car on Sunday and I've done all I can I can be pleased and proud of myself."

Justin Rose and Soren Hansen are not yet safe at eighth and ninth on the points table, but by scoring level par and two under respectively they have no cause to lose any sleep yet.

For Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley, meanwhile, the task is to try to impress Faldo enough to hand them one of his two wild cards.

Clarke, winner in Holland on Sunday, was satisfied with a 72 and Montgomerie said a 74 "by no means" put him out of things, but McGinley could do no better than 76.

AFP