Englishman joins McIlroy and Donald on the sidelines
Lee Westwood has announced that he will not be taking part in next month's Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.
The 39-year-old Englishman follows Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald in pulling out of the valuable event, meaning none of the world's top three will be present at Finca Cortesin.
Like McIlroy, world number three Westwood is a member of the PGA Tour again this year, and has made some changes to his schedule as a result.
He will not defend his title at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea this week, preferring to take the week off before the Wells Fargo Championship and Players Championship in the States.
Westwood won the World Match Play at Wentworth in 2000, but went out at the last 16 stage to eventual winner Ian Poulter a year ago.
McIlroy was beaten at the same stage by Graeme McDowell while Donald reached the final, but the trio have all dropped the event so that they are fresher for the following week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and for the build-up to the US Open in San Francisco in June.
The 22-year-old Ulsterman has also decided not to play the Nordea Masters in Sweden the week before he defends his major title.
First prize at the Match Play is over £700,000 and those who exit at the group stage still walk away with more than £60,000.
With Masters champion Bubba Watson and fellow American Hunter Mahan also expected to miss the Match Play, Germany's Martin Kaymer is likely to be the highest-ranked player in the field.
