Lee Westwood: "I'll be trying 120% this week"

The Englishman says he will play in the season's final event, the Volvo Masters which starts on Thursday, despite a torn a muscle in his side.

Westwood is second in the European Order of Merit going into the tournament in Jerez, Spain.

Scotland's Montgomerie, who is aiming for an unprecedented sixth successive title, leads the way while Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland in third place still has an outside chance of overtaking the leading pair and ending the season as No.1.

Montgomerie has earned £760,077 this season, Westwood has £714,811 and Clarke has £616,867 to his name. With £166,000 on offer for the winner in Jerez, it remains a three-way tussle for superiority.

Montgomerie tees off at the second in his warm-up round

Westwood needed to wear a support in practice, after pulling the muscle while battling in vain against world No.1 Tiger Woods in the World Matchplay at Wentworth two weeks ago.

"It hurts when I swing," the 25-year-old said. "It's a torn muscle but there's no chance of me pulling out. I'll be giving 100%.

"I really hit it trying to be just sixty yards behind Tiger instead of 100 and felt the muscle go.

"I gave it a lot of swing and it felt like someone had stabbed me in the side."

Westwood, who had a physiotherapy session after arriving in southern Spain on Tuesday, said he might have pulled out of the tournament if it was not so important.

Monty: 'What's all the fuss?'

Hot favourite Montgomerie remains unfazed by the media frenzy: "I don't know why there's so much fuss," he said.

"The European tour is getting stronger all the time, but five was tense and six simply does not mean as much.

"But it's still very exciting to have the opportunity to win six. Seve did it in his career (over 16 seasons) and I'd like to do it."

For Clarke the equation is simple. He has to win and If Westwood is not second and Montgomerie does not finish in the top eight then he will be European champion.

The trio have been kept apart in Thursday's first round.