Westwood To Skip Barclays

Tiger Woods isn't playing The Barclays, but this year it wasn't considered a snub. Everybody knows he world's best player is out indefinitely while recovering from knee surgery.

But that doesn't mean there weren't a couple of high-profile withdrawals from the opening round of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Lee Westwood, who played with Woods in the final group in the final round of this year's U.S. Open, and who finished T-2 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, has pulled out. For a reason, the Englishman listed "holiday,"

His countryman, Justin Rose, has also WDed, and is in Holland for the KLM Open, hoping to secure a spot on the European Ryder Cup team. Another English golfer, Luke Donald, will miss the entire playoffs after undergoing wrist surgery in London.

Also pulling out with injuries were Alex Cejka, Jason Bohn and Roland Thatcher. Bob Estes, who finished 124th in the final FedEx Cup standings, scheduled his wedding for this week and is not on the tee sheet. The field at Ridgewood CC in New Jersey will be 136 players.

-- Tim Rosaforte