Westwood plunges down golf rankings

Lee Westwood has dropped out of the world's top 50 for the first time in five years.

And if he fails to climb back up in the next three weeks the 29-year-old will not be exempt for the US Open and will have to come through qualifying to play at Bethpage.

Westwood has not won a title since the Cisco World Match Play at Wentworth in October 2000 and needed a wild card to play for Ireland and Great Britain in the Seve Trophy at Druid's Glen last month.