NEWS

European Notebook: Leg pain sends Westwood back home to England

By PA Sport
Published on
European Notebook: Leg pain sends Westwood back home to England

Lee Westwood flew home to England on Sunday to have immediate treatment and probably a scan on the right leg injury that bothered him all week at the Alstom French Open. The world No. 3, second favorite to Tiger Woods for the upcoming British Open at St. Andrews, was hobbling again for most of a closing 70, which left him down the field on 4 under par. Westwood went to the hospital on Wednesday after fears his problem could be a deep vein thrombosis, but though that didn’t prove to be the case, his condition remains a real concern. "It got worse as the week went on," he said. "I had a 3-iron at the third from a ball-below-feet lie and I think I just tweaked it. After that, I could hardly put any weight on it. Two people think I should have an MRI scan and the sooner that's done the better. I'm also seeing my physio tonight." A late decision will be taken on whether he plays in the JP McManus Pro-am in west Ireland on Monday and Tuesday. Woods is the main attraction of a star-studded field there. OGILVY OUT OF SCOTTISH OPEN: Australian star Geoff Ogilvy has pulled out of this week's Barclays Scottish Open -- the event he calls "my second national Open" -- to concentrate on St. Andrews. The 2006 US Open champion, a distant relative of Robert the Bruce, wants to focus on links golf in readiness for the Open. "I have 10 different theories on how to prepare, but the best preparation for St. Andrews is St. Andrews," said Ogilvy after finishing the Alstom French Open down the field on level par. He is planning to head for Muirfield and courses around it before travelling on the Home of Golf later in the week. South African James Kamte replaces him at Loch Lomond. KIM 'NOT EXPECTED' TO PLAY: Anthony Kim, third in the Masters in April and third in America's Ryder Cup table, appears to be losing his battle to be fit for the British Open. Kim hasn’t played since the start of May, when he went in for surgery on a thumb injury, and management spokesman Chris Armstrong said: "As of now Anthony is not expected to play the Open Championship this year." A final decision is likely to be left until the week of the championship, and if he does withdraw his place would go to the highest player on the world rankings not yet in the event. That is currently his fellow American Rickie Fowler, although he and England's Justin Rose are on course to claim exempt spots off a current form money list in the States that ends a the conclusion of the AT&T National. Kim was told after deciding to have his operation that he could expect to be out of action for 10 to 12 weeks. That was eight weeks ago. The 25-year-old played on for a while earlier this season knowing he had a torn ligament, but said: "Compensating for it was starting to cause other issues, including a sore shoulder." His priority is to regain fitness for the Ryder Cup. He was a star of their victory two years ago, thrashing Sergio Garcia in the top singles.