WESTWOOD HITS OUT AT US SNUB FOR McILROY

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By VICKI HODGE
World No 1 Lee Westwood has questioned the US PGA's decision to award America's Ricki Fowler the Rookie of the Year title over his Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIroy.
Northern Irishman McIlroy wasn't the least bit bothered by being overlooked for the award, which is voted for by players, but Westwood took the chance to vent his annoyance on his Twitter page.
Westwood could not limit his anger to 140 characters so he posted his full complaint on a 'Twitlonger' account.
The Englishman wrote:
"Sorry 140 letters is not going to be enough for this rant! Just seen Ricky Fowler has been given US Rookie of the Year! Yes he's had a good year but Rory McIlroy, third in two majors and an absolute demolition of the field at Quail Hollow!
"Oh yes and on the winning Ryder cup team! Please! Is this yet another case of protectionism by the US PGA Tour or are they so desperate to win something! Wouldn't have something to do with Rory not joining the tour next year? Maybe the US PGA tour just employs the same voting process as FIFA! Come on, fair's fair!"
McIlroy, who turned pro in Europe in 2008, won the Quail Hollow Championship against one of the strongest fields of the year. He tied a major championship record at St. Andrews with a 63 when he tied for third at the Open, and he tied for third in another major, the US PGA Championship. Fowler, meanwhile, did not win a tournament this year.
"It's fine," McIlroy said on Sunday after making four birdies in his last five holes at the Chevron World Challenge to finish fourth. "Look, I really didn't want it. I'm not a rookie."
The US PGA Tour considers him a rookie because it was his first full year on the American tour, which is why McIlroy was on the ballot with Fowler, Puerto Rico Open winner Derek Lamely and Alex Prugh.
The US Tour does not reveal how many players voted or for whom.
The 21 year-old Fowler did not turn pro until the autumn of 2009 after playing in the Walker Cup. This year he became the first tour rookie picked for the Ryder Cup team.
"When I joined the US PGA Tour, I was top 10 in the world," McIlroy said. "Rickie had an unbelievable year. He deserves it.
"Coming straight out of college, playing the Walker Cup in 2009, the Ryder Cup, winning nearly $3 million, getting to 25th in the world. It's a great first year. That's what a rookie should be - the first year. I don't feel like I should have been eligible."