Westwood invited to US PGA Championship

Former European No. 1 Lee Westwood has received a surprise invitation to next month's U.S. PGA Championship, the year's final major.

The Briton, out of form since winning the 2000 European order of merit, has made some improvement this year, missing the cut in last week's British Open by just one stroke.

It was at Royal St George's, though, where the Englishman received a major boost, following a chance meeting with a U.S. PGA official over dinner.

"I'm extremely grateful to the U.S. PGA for extending this invitation," said the 30-year-old Westwood after confirming he would be taking part in the tournament at Oak Hill, New York.

"For the last seven years I've not required an invitation and now to receive one when I haven't qualified automatically, is a big confidence-booster," he added.

Westwood has twice finished in the top 20 at the U.S. PGA Championship.

He will have his new caddie Pete Coleman, who has left Bernhard Langer after 22 years, on his bag at Oak Hill and will stay in the U.S. for The International and the WGC NEC Invitational before beginning his Ryder Cup qualifying campaign at the BMW International in Munich.

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