Lee Westwood could face Ryder Cup heartbreak after pulling out of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio because of a calf injury (Europe – 8/15 to beat USA).

The world number three says the ruptured plantaris muscle in his right calf is giving cause for concern, and he cannot at the moment guarantee he will be fit for October’s clash with USA.

The 37-year-old suffered the injury at the end of June, and has been struggling since although he managed to play through the pain to finish second to Louis Oosthuizen (66/1 – to win the USPGA Championship) in the Open at St Andrews.

Overnight, he pulled out of the Bridgestone event and also announced he would not be competing at next week’s USPGA Championship.

“I will be out for as long as it takes to get right,” Westwood told reporters after a second round of 76 left him seven over par at Firestone.

“Hopefully it will be in time for the Ryder Cup.”

Westwood added: “It just seems to be getting worse. There’s no strength in it.

“I don’t have a deal of confidence in it, and then on the way down I’m finding it hard to hold my weight on it and then push off.”

Asked what he could do to get better, Westwood added: “Sit on my backside for six weeks like they keep telling me. It’s the only way to improve it.

“I’d like to be working out and I can’t put any weight on it in the gym, so my legs feel weak. That’s just it.”

Six weeks out would leave Westwood with around two weeks to get ready for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, which starts on October 1.

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Justin Rose remains determined to play his way into Europe Ryder Cup team (8/15 favourites in the antepost betting) but is hopeful that his performance from two years ago will swing things in his favour if he has to rely on being one of captain Colin Montgomerie’s wildcard selections.

USA were comfortable 16.5-11.5 winners at Valhalla two years ago to end a three-event losing streak but are available at 15/8 to retain the trophy (9/1 the tie) when battle commences at Celtic Manor in October.

There is not long to go now before the team is confirmed on August 29 after the conclusion og the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, and some big names, including Rose, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, currently sit out of the automatic top nine in the standings.

Should Rose miss out on automatic selection, he remains hopeful that the strong partnership he formed with Ian Poulter two years ago will persuade Montgomerie to include him in the team as one of his picks.

“I think you’ve got to look at natural pairings, there is no doubt about it,” he said. “Me and Poults did really well together last time and we feel very comfortable playing together in both formats. I think we work well together, we read greens well together.

“But then you have also got the Molinari brothers who are both there and thereabouts – another great natural pairing I’d assume… then there’s GMac (Graeme McDowell) and (Rory) McIlroy, so the team shapes up really well from that perspective, assuming I can play my way on. Who knows? If it counts in my favour, then who knows?”

Rose, who has one twice on the PGA Tour in the last two months and lies fourth on the FedEx Cup points list, can propel himself up the Ryder Cup standings with a strong performance at the year’s final major, the US PGA Championship, which gets underway on August 12.

Rose is currently available at 33/1 in the ante post outright market, headed by the world’s top two players, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at 13/2 and 11/1 respectively.

Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy are both on offer at 16/1, ahead of Ernie Els at 25/1 and Harrington at 28/1.

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Rory McIlroy is hopeful of winning the Masters in Augusta (McIlroy 40/1 The Masters – Outright) with the added incentive that he will be the youngest champion in history if he pulls it off this year.

The Northern Irishman (11/2 The Masters – Top Gb And Ire) starts his his challenge on Thursday lunch-time and the world number 11, who will be 21 next month, must take the green jacket this time around otherwise he will be eight months older than Tiger Woods was when he became the youngest winner back in 1997 when the tournament rolls around next year.

McIlroy has endured a difficult time of late on the course which was summed up last week when he missed the cut at the Houston Open, but he feels his game is coming together at the right time for the Masters.

“I’ve made a lot of progress in the last week,” said McIlroy.

“I feel I’m now playing well enough to be on contention. I feel like the shots are there again. I’m hitting a lot of fairways and my distance is up again.

“I’m certainly moving in the right direction. My confidence wasn’t great a month ago, but it’s probably back close to seven or eight.

“And I love this golf course.”

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Anthony Kim carded a second round 64 to join Camilo Villegas at the top of the leaderboard on eight under at the halfway stage of the Honda Classic (Kim & Villegas both 3/1 The Honda Classic In-Play) at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Argentinian star Villegas carded his second consecutive 66 which allowed US Ryder Cup star Kim to move level with him as the race for the title intensifies.

Kim made seven birdies during his second round and was delighted to move into contention ahead of his third round two balls against Villegas (Kim 21/20, Villegas 20/21, Tie 8/1 The Honda Classic 3rd Round 2 Balls).

“I feel really good,” he said. “I’ve been working hard on my game, and the last couple of months I’ve really started to play better.

“I’m happy to have another opportunity to put four good ones together and hopefully have a chance to win the tournament on the back nine.”

Vijay Singh (6/1 Honda Classic In-Play) is a shot behind the leaders after a second-round 66 while Jerry Kelly (16/1) sits on six under par following his 65.

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Race To Dubai betting: Much has been written and is about to be written about the European Tour’s “Race to Dubai” – the system which used to be called, and still essentially is, the Order of Merit.

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