Golf: Martin out of Masters

Miguel Angel Martin, out of action since 18 July and dropped from Europe's Ryder Cup team, has withdrawn from this week's One2One British Masters at the Forest of Arden.

The 35-year-old, replaced by Jose Maria Olazabal as the last automatic qualifier, had fought for a delay in the decision to axe him. But having rejected an order from the Ryder Cup committee to attend a fitness test on his injured left wrist two weeks ago, he failed his own one in Madrid on Monday. "I tried to hit balls but couldn't do it properly," he said.

Martin added that he may still come to the Forest of Arden to attend a meeting.The tour's tournament committee meets today and the Frenchman Jean Van de Velde has said he wants the matter discussed. Martin's lawyers are in the process of a claim for compensation for loss of potential earnings.