McIlroy hit by Trophy withdrawals

BRITAIN and Ireland have been so badly hit by withdrawals that despite four successive wins in the Seve Trophy – now renamed the Vivendi Trophy – they are underdogs against Continental Europe in Paris this week.

Paul McGinley’s side is without its four highest-ranked players in Paul Casey, Pádraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, plus Luke Donald and Justin Rose.

The only absentees from Thomas Bjorn’s team are Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer.