Donald to skip Seve Trophy

Luke Donald has withdrawn from the Britain and Ireland side to defend the Seve Trophy against Continental Europe at The Heritage in Ireland in two weeks’ time.

Donald qualified along with Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey as the four highest-placed players on this week’s world rankings, but the Ryder Cup star, having already declined the World Cup in China in November, has turned down the chance.

Ian Poulter is next in line, but he is unavailable because he is getting married.

That means Colin Montgomerie comes in and does not need one of the four places up for grabs off the European Order of Merit after this week’s Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany.

Graeme Storm, Bradley Dredge, Oliver Wilson and Lee Westwood are in position to qualify that way, although Westwood has already said he plans to take the week off and that would bring in Nick Dougherty before captain Nick Faldo adds two wild cards.