Lee Westwood fit to play French Open first round after leg injury

Lee Westwood will take part in the first round of the French Open this afternoon, scotching fears that a muscle strain would force him to miss the competition. Westwood practised this morning, as did Ian Poulter, and the pair are due to tee off at 1.10pm and 1.20pm respectively. There had been concern yesterday that Poulter, the world No3, might have developed a blod clot in his right leg after he suffered swelling in his right calf and ankle, but hospital tests showed he was only suffering from a muscle strain. While Poulter was practising this morning, the Frenchman Jean van de Velde made a fast start, moving to three under with a 12-foot birdie putt on the long third, before falling behind as the German Marcel Siem finished the outward half with three successive birdies and turned in a brilliant five-under 31. He was a stroke ahead of Paul Broadhurst and Danny Lee, while Rory McIlroy went to two under with birdies on the 2nd and 3rd.