Kaymer pulls out of Seve Trophy
04 Sep 2011 - 18:30:07
Martin Kaymer on Sunday joined Rory McIlroy in pulling out of this month's Vivendi Seve Trophy in France.
Germany's world No. 5 was set to be Continental Captain Jean Van de Velde's leading qualifier.
However Kaymer cited the effects of a head cold and a desire to have the week of the Seve Trophy resting ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland a week later.
"I'm defending the KLM Open in Holland this week and I really need a week off after that to get myself fully fit to be able to prepare properly for the Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland," he said after finishing runner-up in the European Masters in Switzerland.
"Also I just need to win again. I won earlier this year but I haven't won since so I will try to win again in Holland this week and then try and do the same in Scotland."
Other players in doubt for the September 18th teams event are the British pair if Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell.
Poulter is ranked fifth on the Great Britain and Ireland team qualifying points table but is yet to advise the European Tour if he will play considering he is now available for selection after being knocked out of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Series.
McDowell made the cut in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston to keep his FedEx Cup playoff series alive.
However fellow Brit Paul Casey, who is ninth qualifier and also out of the playoff series, is another yet to contact the Tour.
The make-up of the two 10-man teams will be finalised after Monday's concluding PGA Tour event in Boston and announced by the Euroepan Tour on Tuesday.
After US Open champion McIlroy announced this week he would not contest the Seve Trophy had been given a boost with world No. 2 Lee Westwood and British Open Champion Darren Clarke committing to the event.
The inclusion of Westwood and Clarke at St-Nom-la-Breteche near Paris was confirmed by their manager, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler.
McIlroy is missing the event as he indicated he needed two weeks rest ahead of 12 weeks 'on the road' with the Seve Trophy taking place during his break.
Westwood is ranked second on the qualifying table.
It will be Westwood's fourth appearance in the now biannual event but a first since 2003.
Clarke will forgo commitments at Archerfield in Scotland on September 18th, and the final day of the Vivendi, to also take his place in Paul McGinley's Great Britain and Ireland team.
Clarke was concerned in breaking promises to be present to greet Archerfield to guests ahead of a two-day charity fund raiser starting Monday and the day after the final round of the French event.
However Chandler indicated: "I know Darren was worried about breaking promises but we've organised a private jet straight from France to Edinburgh after the Vivendi, so he shouldn't be too late for the Sunday evening function at Archerfield."
Clarke hasn't represented GBR & IRL in the 10-man team's event since 2002.
As well, it's believed world No. 18 Paul Casey will make himself available given he was cut last week from the FedEx Cup series.
He indicated following the recent PGA Championship in Atlanta not only a desire to compete but also to be on hand to honour Ballesteros's memory.
Casey is lying fourth behind Clarke on the points table.
The inclusion of three Ryder Cup stars in the Seve Trophy is also a big lift for European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal who had chosen McGinley and Continental Captain, Jean Van de Velde for the event.
