Lee Westwood is determined to represent Team Europe at next year's rescheduled Ryder Cup after being crowned Race to Dubai winner.
The Englishman finished runner-up to compatriot Matthew Fitzpatrick in the DP World Tour Championship, which was enough to see him crowned Europe's season-ending number one for the third time in his career.
It has been 20 years since Westwood first won the European Tour's Order of Merit, now known as the Race to Dubai, and at 47 years, seven months and 20 days he is the oldest player to do so.
Westwood was in one of the qualifying spots for Team Europe prior to the suspension of the qualification process until 2021. That decision was taken due to the Ryder Cup, which will be held at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, being postponed by 12 months to next September due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Westwood played in an impressive 10 straight Ryder Cups from 1997 to 2016, featuring on the winning team in seven of those, and was a vice-captain when Europe regained the trophy at Le Golf National two years ago.
While he accepts different roles, including the captaincy, are set to become the norm in the twilight of his career, Westwood still wants to be involved in a playing capacity under Padraig Harrington in 2021.
"I would love to play again. At some point, I hope the captaincy is going to be offered to me – and I would love to do that," Westwood told Sky Sports News.
7,336 days after his first Order of Merit title, @WestwoodLee wins the season-long race for a third time #DPWTC #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/lfFhzBSAKl
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 13, 2020
"I played in 10 Ryder Cups under 10 different captains, at certain times you've got to move into new chapters of your life.
"If I did qualify, I would give it my all and be ready for it."
Westwood will be 48 by the time of the next Ryder Cup, still short of the 51 years and 20 days Raymond Floyd was when he became the oldest player in Ryder Cup history for the United States in 1993.
"It's not getting any easier," Westwood added. "I'm not getting any younger. I'm just enjoying playing golf and enjoying playing in this big tournaments against these great young players. These kids are so good now.
"The European Tour is in great shape."
