Westwood allays fitness worries

Lee Westwood has dismissed reports that he is a doubt for next week's Ryder Cup and revealed that he is to have his tonsils removed later this year.

Forced to miss last week's European Masters after going down with tonsillitis, just as he did a month before the 2006 match, Westwood revealed he is now back in practice.

He added: 'I'm confident I'll be 100% by the end of the week.
There is no truth in speculation that I am a doubt for the Ryder Cup. I am certainly nearly back at my peak now. I woke up this morning feeling better, went to the gym and had a good workout.

'I have this problem with tonsillitis about two to three times a year, but I'll be having my tonsils removed in November to try to alleviate the problem.'

After last week's unexpected lay-off, Westwood enquired about playing in Cologne this week instead, but because he had not originally entered and the six invitation spots had been taken up he could not step straight into the field.

He said: 'I would just like to point out that I didn't go to Germany because the invite came late and I wasn't quite feeling 100% at the time.'

He also told Sky Sports News: 'When the promoter (Bernhard Langer's brother Erwin) eventually came up with one there were a couple of conditions which I couldn't go along with.
"I also decided that another week's rest, a bit of gym work and a lot of practice at home here would have me in better shape for the Ryder Cup."