Lee Westwood pulls out of WGC-Bridgestone, PGA Championship

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Lee Westwood entered this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with a shot at becoming the world’s No. 1- ranked golfer.

Two rounds into that tournament, his ranking is the furthest thing from Westwood’s mind. He was forced to pull out of the WGC-Bridgestone on Friday because of a badly swollen right calf and ankle.

He also pulled out of next week’s PGA Championship, the final major tournament of the year.

“I will be out for as long as it takes to get better,” Westwood said in a statement after shooting a six-over-par 76 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. He added that he hopes to be back in time for the Ryder Cup in October.

Westwood, ranked No. 3 in the world, injured his ankle during the French Open and took two weeks off after finishing second in the British Open. The British golfer could have claimed the No. 1 ranking with a top-two finish at the WGC-Bridgestone.

“I can’t worry too much about the world No. 1 thing; it’s just unfortunate there’s a major championship [to come] and that the [British] Open was the week after I injured my leg,” he said.

-- Chuck Schilken