 Westwood was on his way back after a poor start to the season |
Lee Westwood must rely on a wildcard to play in this year's Ryder Cup after pulling out of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational because of illness. Westwood needed a top-six finish in the event to have any hope of qualifying automatically for next month's match.
But the Englishman, 33, pulled out before the start of the final round after falling ill with a fever.
Westwood will hope to impress European captain Ian Woosnam at next week's BMW International Open in Munich.
Westwood has reasons to be hopeful of getting one of two wildcards on offer.
With Sergio Garcia, he was Europe's top scorer in the record-breaking win in Detroit two years ago.
He has also won twice at the K Club near Dublin, the venue for this year's Ryder Cup.
Westwood's form has also improved after missing seven consecutive cuts earlier in the season.
He was fourth at last month's European Open and joint second at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Germany.
Westwood and Darren Clarke, whose wife Heather died recently, are thought to be the two wildcard favourites.
But Thomas Bjorn and Ian Poulter are still in the running while Jose Maria Olazabal or Paul McGinley could come into the reckoning if they are pushed out of the automatic spots.
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