Immelman not expecting Cup call-up

Last year’s Masters champion Trevor Immelman is not expecting a Presidents Cup call-up from Greg Norman next week – unless he does something truly spectacular in Switzerland first.

“I’m sure Greg is looking for two guys who have been playing well lately. I’ve not even been playing,” said the South African.

Immelman, recovering from a left wrist injury, is making only his third appearance since May at the Omega European Masters starting today.

The 29-year-old’s world ranking is down to 60th and, having missed the US Open, Open and US PGA, he did not even qualify for the US tour’s FedEx Cup play-offs.

“I’ve been struggling since February,” he said. “The season as a whole has been very frustrating.

“I’m hoping I’m through all of that now. I thought I was at the Bridgestone (world championship) and I was fine for a couple of days, but then struggled through the weekend.

“It seems to start causing problems when I am playing out of the rough and hitting drivers.

“Coming here I’ve not really been able to practise too much or prepare as well as I usually would.

“My expectations aren’t great this week. The fields in these tournaments are so strong now that you’re going to have to play phenomenal golf to win.”

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, joint third in the PGA and third and fourth respectively on the European money list, go head to head in the first two rounds.

This is the first qualifying event for next year’s Ryder Cup, but the third member of their group has no interest in that.

Indian Jeev Milkha Singh is hoping that Norman will make him one of his two wild cards for the Presidents Cup, however, after finishing 12th on their points list.

Immelman’s fellow countryman Rory Sabbatini, pushed out of an automatic spot by YE Yang’s PGA victory, looks set for one.

Singh, now over the rib muscle problem which kept him out of the Open, said: “I would love it, but let’s see what happens.

“The game is coming round. I’m happy with it and I’m striking it well – the confidence is coming back after the injury.”