Despite remarks from Graeme McDowell he was looking forward to competing in this week’s Wales Open, the former winner of the event and the hero of the 2010 Ryder Cup here at Celtic Manor has elected not to tee-up in the week before this year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

McDowell has not competed since missing the cut a fortnight ago in the BMW Championship in Denver, Colorado.

However a European Tour official indicated McDowell ‘was just 25%’ certain of teeing-up on the Twenty-Ten course.

Instead, the 2010 US Open winner will head straight to Scotland over the weekend to take his place in what will be his fourth straight Ryder Cup appearance.

Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was another who appeared on the entry list and he also is not competing.

The absence of McDowell and Dubuisson now leaves four 2014 European Team members in hometown favourite Jamie Donaldson, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, Dane Thomas Bjorn and eight-time Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood.

Graeme McDowell – winner of the 2010 Wales Open but now not contesting this year’s event.