In a further blow to event organisers Martin Kaymer has now joined Rory McIlroy in declining to contest next fortnight’s Vivendi Seve Trophy in France.

The World No. 5 ranked Kaymer was set to be Continental Captain Jean Van de Velde’s leading qualifier.

However the German cited the ill effects of a head cold and a desire also to rest from competition during the week of the Vivendi Seve Trophy ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland a week later as his reasons for declining to travel to Paris.

“I’m defending the KLM Open in Holland this week and I really need a week off after that to get myself fully fit to be able to prepare properly for the Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland,” he said after finishing runner-up in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

“Also I just need to win again.  I won earlier this year but I haven’t won since so I will try to win again in Holland this week and then try and do the same in Scotland.”

Kaymer revealed also he was only able to get an hour’s sleep ahead of the final round in Switzerland and clearly due to his illness.

He was seen taking a couple of pills to combat his illness after a closing round of 65 that remarkably included two eagles within a few holes early on.

Other players in doubt for the September 18th teams event in France is the British pair of Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell.

Poulter is ranked fifth on the GB & I team qualifying points table but is yet advise the European Tour if he will play considering he is now available for selection after being knocked out of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Series.

McDowell made the cut in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston but slipped well down the field on day three to be in danger of not being among the top-70 to advance to the third round of the playoff series.

Also Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who is second behind Kaymer in the Vivendi points table, shares 51^st place in Boston, and as he’s lying 46^th in the playoff series so he’s also assured of continuing in the chase for the outrageous and bizarre $10m first prize cheque.

However England’s Paul Casey, who is ninth qualifier and also out of the playoff series, is another yet to contact the Tour.

Casey had revealed to www.golfbytourmiss.com during the recent PGA Championship in Altanta he would welcome the opportunity to play and also honour the memory of Seve Ballesteros.

The make-up of the two 10-man teams will be finalised after Monday’s concluding PGA Tour event in Boston and announce by the European Tour on Tuesday.