Westwood's chance

Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance will be able to check this week where Lee Westwood stands in fitness and form as the Ryder Cup draws nearer.

Westwood had to pull out of the World Championship in Ohio with a wrist injury two weeks ago. Repetitive strain injury was diagnosed and after a week's rest Westwood will compete at the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland, which starts today.

"No problems with the wrist. It's fine," said Westwood. As for having no victories in his defence of the European number one crown, he added: "Even though I won seven times last year it is not a foregone conclusion you are going to win the following year. Play is of a very high standard now on all tours and it's not easy.

"Maybe if I had played as well as I played in Sweden a few weeks ago (he finished second behind Colin Montgomerie) it might have turned into a win, but it is always difficult when you haven't won for a while to fall over the finishing line.

"But it is not something that bothers me."

He and Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Bjorn, are both entered for the World Championship in St Louis next week, but neither is happy about the timing.

Westwood is still not committing himself fully. "At the moment I am planning on going," he says.

Bjorn adds: "We shouldn't be going. All the travelling takes a lot out of you and the Ryder Cup is unquestionably the toughest tournament to play in the world."

Ernie Els, Nick Faldo and Craig Stadler are the other big names competing in Switzerland. Ireland's David Higgins and Ronan Rafferty are also entered.