Westwood pulls out of Pro-am

Lee Westwood has pulled out of the star-studded JP McManus Pro-am in order to have intensive treatment on his leg injury.

The Open starts at St Andrews on Thursday week and is obviously the main priority for the world number three, who lost by a shot at Turnberry last year and was runner-up in The Masters in April, so he has opted to withdraw from the west Ireland event.

Westwood limped through last week's French Open and flew home on Sunday night admitting that his right calf problem had got progressively worse as the tournament went on.

"Two people think I should have an MRI scan and the sooner I get it done the better," said the 37-year-old.

Westwood was in hospital last Wednesday when an on-course examination raised the fear he might have a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis.

Further tests put his mind at rest on that, leaving Westwood convinced that he has been carrying an injury all year.

He pulled out of this week's Scottish Open a fortnight ago and was planning an early visit to St Andrews in a few days, but whether that now takes place remains to be seen.