Westwood has trapped nerve

The injury which forced Lee Westwood to make an early return home from America at the weekend has now been diagnosed as a trapped nerve in his upper back.

Westwood withdrew from the Compaq Classic in New Orleans, where he was the defending champion, after the recurrence of a problem which first bothered him last month.

The Worksop golfer, Europe's Player of the Year last season, thought at first it was tennis elbow - but a scan today traced the injury to his back.

European tour physiotherapist Jonathan Shrewsbury travelled to Westwood's home this afternoon to begin a course of treatment which he hopes will have him back to health for the Benson and Hedges International Open starting at The Oxfordshire on Thursday.

TRW