Golf:Lee Westwood has pulled out of Paul McGinley's Britain and Ireland team for this month's Seve Trophy against Thomas Bjorn's Continental Europe in Paris.

"Paul was obviously disappointed but understood why," Westwood said the Mercedes Championship in Cologne today.

"It's a sensible week to take off. The winnings don't count towards the money-list (Race to Dubai) and I could play 36-holes in a day. I need my weeks off now at 36 (years old)."

Westwood, the 2000 European number one, is targeting a second order of merit. He is fourth in the Race to Dubai.

Continental Europe will be without Germany's Martin Kaymer, the leader of the money-list, who is still recuperating from the broken toes he suffered in a karting accident last month.

The Seve Trophy takes place from September 24th-27th at the Saint-Nom-la-Breteche course in Paris.