McIlroy to skip Seve Trophy

Rory McIlroy has turned down the opportunity to take part in the Vivendi Seve Trophy in Paris later this month.

Youngster unavailable for team event

Rory McIlroy has turned down the opportunity to take part in the Vivendi Seve Trophy in Paris later this month. The Northern Irishman has spent the last two weeks in America with new girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, resting the injury he picked up at the USPGA Championship. He will tee it up at the Omega European Masters in the Swiss Alps this week but plans to spend more time with family and friends before embarking on a busy schedule in the run up to Christmas. "I want to try to get two weeks at home and do a few things before I head off on that big run," he said. Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal had hoped to see as many of next year's possibles available for the Great Britain and Ireland vs Continental Europe match to honour the late Seve Ballesteros. However, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Martin Laird and Justin Rose are likely to miss it because of the FedEx Cup play-offs in America. And world number two Lee Westwood has yet to commit to the event, which gets under way on September 15.