Westwood plays his first round since a leg injury

SPORTS DIGEST:GOLF: Lee Westwood's hopes of playing in the Ryder Cup will come under scrutiny this week when the Englishman plays his first round since a leg injury forced him to withdraw from a World Golf Championships event in Akron last month.

The world number three, one of the most influential members of Colin Montgomerie’s team, has since been a doubt for Celtic Manor, although a spokesman for his management company, ISM, said last night the player would “definitely” play against the United States.

“Lee’s rehab is ahead of where it is scheduled to be. He has been chipping and putting for some time and is now working his way through all the clubs in his bag,” the spokesman said.

The player will take part in a company golf day this week for one of his sponsors, albeit using a buggy.

“Everything is going according to plan. He is in the gym every day. He’s confident he will be ready.”

Westwood will travel to Scotland next week, where he will walk 36 holes at Archerfield golf club, near Edinburgh, in an invitational event hosted by Ian Botham and Darren Clarke, who is one of three vice-captains on the European team.

Westwood’s absence has been a concern, as another European vice-captain, Paul McGinley, acknowledged yesterday.

If Westwood withdraws, Montgomerie will have to make another captain’s pick, likely to be Paul Casey or Justin Rose.

Heidfeld returns to Sauber

MOTOR SPORT: Germany's Nick Heidfeld will replace Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa and return to Sauber for the remaining five races of the season, the Formula One team said yesterday.

Heidfeld, who has never won a race in 167 starts but has finished second eight times, was delighted to get back in the cockpit and said he felt like he was coming home.

Stowers avoids suspension

RUGBY: London Irish forward George Stowers has avoided suspension following his sending-off against English Premiership rivals Bath last Saturday.

Number eight Stowers was dismissed by referee Dave Pearson following a dangerous tackle on fullback Nick Abendanon during the second-half of a game London Irish lost 20-13 at the Recreation Ground.

Stowers appeared before the English Rugby Football Union disciplinary officer judge Jeff Blackett at a hearing in Epsom yesterday.

And Blackett decided the red card was sufficient punishment, meaning 31-year-old Stowers is free to continue playing.

Turf Club awaits judgment

RACING:The Turf Club Officials Association (TCOA) is still awaiting a Labour Court judgment on its long-running dispute with the Turf Club, writes Brian O'Connor.

It is almost eight months since the TCOA were on the verge of strike action with Irish racing’s regulatory body in a dispute over pay and cuts to the integrity budget.

After negotiations in the Labour Relations Commission failed to come up with a solution, the matter was referred to the Labour Court which is still deliberating on the problem.

“An independent body went into the Turf Club to look at the books and a report has been submitted,” said TCOA chairman Michael O’Donoghue.

“Everyone hopes there will be some news as soon as possible.”

The dispute came on the back of cuts to the Turf Club’s integrity budget following a reduction in funding generally from Horse Racing Ireland.

Battle ahead for Roche

CYCLING: Nicolas Roche today has very important battle to fight in the Vuelta a España, going into the 46km time trial in Peñafiel sitting in a superb fifth place overall, writes Shane Stokes.

This and Saturday’s final mountain stage to Bola del Mundo will determine the final general classification in the race, and if Roche can remain high in the standings he will become the best-placed Irishman in a Grand Tour since Seán Kelly won the 1988 Vuelta.

Meanwhile, Daniel Martin and Philip Lavery impressed on yesterday’s fourth stage of the Tour of Britain. Martin was clear in breakaway groups for almost the entire 171km, striking out alone near the end in an effort to win the stage but being caught with six kilometres to go.

Lavery made it into the select front group and took a solid 27th on the stage, moving to 25th overall. Wout Poels (Vacansoleil) was first to the line while Michael Albasini (HTC Columbia) remains the leader.

O’Brien appeals four-day ban

RACING: Aidan O'Brien's apprentice jockey son, Joseph, has appealed to the Turf Club the severity of the four-day ban he picked up at Listowel on Monday, writes Brian O'Connor.

The in-form teenager was handed a suspension for careless riding after bringing the favourite Treasure Beach into second behind his stable companion Pirateer in a Nursery event at the festival.

Treasure Beach was judged to have interfered with the fourth horse home, Jamesie, in an incident in the straight, although the stewards left the placings unaltered.

The champion trainer’s son is in the middle of a close struggle for this year’s apprentice title and rode his 21st winner of 2010 at the Curragh on Sunday.

O’Brien is in third place in the apprentice table behind Ben Curtis and Gary Carroll.