Westwood among British sports stars honored on Queen's birthday list

Golf star Lee Westwood, horse trainer Henry Cecil and two cricketers from England's victorious Ashes team are among the sports figures honored by Queen Elizabeth II in her birthday list.

Westwood, who has had two recent stays at No. 1 in the world and is now No. 2 behind countryman Luke Donald, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Cecil was given a knighthood for more than 40 years of service to horse racing, and David Higgins, an Australian who led the construction program for London 2012 as chief executive of the Olympics Delivery Authority, also received the top honor available.

England captain Andrew Strauss, who guided his country's test team to a successful defense of the Ashes on Australian soil, was given an OBE for services to the sport while fellow opening batsman and man-of-the-series Alastair Cook was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. England cricket coach Andy Flower also received an OBE as did John Amaechi, who became the first openly gay NBA player after coming out in 2007.