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Westwood steps up his Ryder Cup preparations

Lee Westwood insists he will be fit for the Ryder Cup © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood has revealed that he will step up his Ryder Cup preparations this week as he bids to win his fitness battle ahead of the October tournament.

The world No. 3 has not played a competitive round since withdrawing from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio seven weeks ago with a leg injury.

He competed in a corporate golf day last week and was adamant afterwards that he will be fit to take on the Americans at Celtic Manor.

This week he has opted not to play in the European Tour event - the Vivendi Cup, which will feature Padraig Harrington - and instead will test himself in a two-day charity pro-am at Archerfield Links in Scotland, beginning on Monday.

Then comes the acid test for Westwood, as he attempts to replicate Ryder Cup combat by playing 36 holes on Friday.

"If the Ryder Cup was this week, I'd play," Westwood said. "That's good news. I'm just trying to edge my way into it gradually, I don't want any flare-ups. I'm still cautious about it but I've no problem with it now, no pain for three or four weeks.

"I'm still doing the gym work, strengthening around it, because I want to play a full schedule after the Ryder Cup. It's not just about the Ryder Cup, I want to carry on and I've got a few goals for when that's done and dusted."

Meanwhile, Westwood's Ryder Cup team-mates Graeme McDowell - who finished third at the Austrian Open over the weekend - and Ian Poulter have swapped places in the world rankings.

World Rankings: 1. Tiger Woods (USA), 2. Phil Mickelson (USA), 3. Lee Westwood (ENG), 4. Steve Stricker (USA), 5. Martin Kaymer (GER), 6. Jim Furyk (USA), 7. Paul Casey (ENG), 8. Rory McIlroy (NI), 9. Luke Donald (ENG), 10. Matt Kuchar (USA), 11. Ernie Els (SA), 12. Dustin Johnson (USA), 13. Graeme McDowell (NI), 14. Ian Poulter (ENG), 15. Hunter Mahan (USA), 16. Edoardo Molinari (ITA), 17. Retief Goosen (SA), 18. Zach Johnson (USA), 19. Anthony Kim (USA), 20. Louis Oosthuizen (SA)

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