Westwood trying to shrug off illness

Lee Westwood was on Wednesday trying to shrug off 'flu-like' symptoms on the eve of the Masters at Augusta.

Europe's Player of the Year last season called off a scheduled final practice session on the course after starting to feel unwell on Tuesday night.

"He thinks it's 'flu, but I think it may be caused by pollen," said his manager Andrew Chandler. "He wasn't great last night and decided not to play the nine holes he was planning this morning.

"We'll see how he is later on and maybe he won't play the par three competition either to make sure he's alright for the first round tomorrow."

The par three event was an optional curtain-raiser for the players today and Westwood was scheduled to play with fellow Britons Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.

The 25-year-old's wife Laurae said: "He was aching and had a bit of a temperature last night when he got back to the house we're staying in this week.

"It didn't need a doctor, but he took a hot bath, had some paracetemol - and some tender, loving care from me!"

Westwood has a late tee-off time tomorrow - 1.12pm with defending champion Mark O'Meara and American amateur champion Hank Kuehne - and has been looking forward to the week after finishing sixth in the Players' Championship a fortnight ago.

He and Laurae were in the Bahamas last week, Westwood having chosen not to play in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta.

Last year he won the pre-Masters event in New Orleans, but did not feel he had enough energy left for the first major of the year. He finished 44th.

Ulsterman Clarke is also eager for the tournament to start as well - and that makes a change.

"I've been playing so poorly this season that it's been difficult to be enthusiastic," he said. "But after working hard on my game in Florida last week I'm swinging it much better."

Eighth on his debut at Augusta last year, Clarke does not have Peter Cowen, his and Westwood's coach, on hand this week.

"I was getting confused with too many thoughts in my head," said the 30-year-old. "I've been working on what he's told me on my own, with the help of Billy (his caddie Billy Foster) and Chubby (Chandler's nickname)."

Cowen was not at the Players' Championship either and Westwood had a session there with Tiger Woods' coach Butch Harmon.

Westwood felt well enough to hit shots on the practice round and then played in the par three competition.