Westwood may leave Twitter after abuse

World number one golfer Lee Westwood says he is giving serious thought to closing down his Twitter account because of abusive comments sent to him.

It is something former Open champion Paul Lawrie has already done and US Open champion Graeme McDowell also spoke out tonight about some of the “evil” stuff posted.

All this, of course, follows the row involving soccer star Wayne Rooney, who found himself being threatened on his site.

“It’s social media, not social slagging,” said Westwood in Spain, where he is through to the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

“It’s losing its meaning with the sort of stuff that’s gone on just recently. It seems to have turned into that for some people, having a go, which is a bit unfortunate.

“We all get the odd idiot here and there – it’s just pathetic.

“I suppose it’s there to interact with people and give them an idea of stuff they might not ordinarily be able to engage with, but people always take it too far and spoil it.”

McDowell, who plays Rory McIlroy for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow morning, added: "I think abuse goes with the territory.

“It’s 98% support and 2% nastiness. Every now and again I re-tweet to show how nasty people can be.

“People open an account and all they want to do is abuse celebrities and sportsmen to try to get a response.

“You try not to encourage them and generally I just block them, but if you want to stay on it you are going to have to accept some absolute trash that people talk.

“Rooney has given them exactly what they want. You can’t humour them by doing it.

“I’ve said ’get a life’, but all they are is just people looking for attention. It’s downright evil some of the stuff.”