The attraction of playing in a major is not enough to sway Lee Westwood, who said he is worried about the way the United States is handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thomas Pieters was picked ahead of Scotland's Russell Knox for Europe's Ryder Cup team, having bolstered his case for inclusion with a stunning opening round of 62 at last week's Made in Denmark tournament

Jamie Donaldson's victory also meant he qualified for the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Westwood, who has won the tournament twice before, pulled away from the field last year to win by seven strokes.

Europe have won five out of the last six Ryder Cups and will start strong favourites once again in Gleneagles with the biennial inter-continental showdown returning to Scotland for the first time in 31 years.

Britain's Lee Westwood, eight times a top-three major finisher but yet to hoist a trophy, matched his best round in a major with a six-under par 65 at Valhalla to finish level with Americans Ryan Palmer and Kevin Chappell atop the leaderboard.

Anirban Lahiri (111th) is currently the highest-placed Indian in top-200 of Official World Golf Ranking.

The three-time Asian Tour number one finished ninth on the final Race to Dubai rankings in the recently concluded European season, but the Thai home hero is keen to win for the first time this year in front of his fans at Amata Spring Country Club.

Rest of the field includes this year's winners on Asian Tour - Anirban Lahiri of India, Siddikur of Bangladesh and Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei.

Rest of the field includes this year's winners on Asian Tour - Anirban Lahiri of India, Siddikur of Bangladesh and Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei.