Golf: Although forced to withdraw from the final round of the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles because of a stomach illness, David Duval - who is third seed for the event - is confident he will be able to play in the Accenture world matchplay championship at La Costa, which starts on Wednesday.

Dlthoughl lost a remarkable amount of weight overnight and had to withdraw after playing only three holes of his final round. "I have never been that sick before," he said. "I'm exhausted from it."

Duval had started the final round in a tie for 10th, seven strokes off the lead held by Scott McCarron. He carried a portable seat and rested between shots, but his swing looked lethargic and he let one hand go on his follow through.

"I just didn't have the energy to walk or swing," said Duval, who had a birdie and two bogeys before walking in. However, despite the illness, his intention was to drive down the coast to La Costa and rest before taking his place in the matchplay field where he is scheduled to meet Kevin Sutherland in the first round.

While Duval's interest in the Nissan Open finished early, Paul McGinley - attempting to make up ground after a horrendous 76 in Saturday's third round, plunged him towards the tail-end of the field - was fighting for respectability. That third round included four successive bogeys - and he failed to claim a single birdie on the back nine.

In yesterday's rain-delayed final round, he had to start on the 10th tee and picked up two birdies on this opening two holes. After 14 holes he was one-under for the round and three-over for the tournament.

Scott McCarron, meanwhile, who holed a 50-footer for eagle on his penultimate hole on Saturday to turn a one-shot deficit into a one-shot lead over Japan's Tour Taniguchi, moved into a two-shot lead over Len Mattiace with four holes remaining in his final round.

Seve Ballesteros believes Europe should change the rules to allow in-form Jose Marie Olazabal to play in this year's Ryder Cup. Olazabal narrowly missed automatic qualification for the European team, and captain Sam Torrance gave his two wild cards to Swede Jesper Parnevik and Sergio Garcia of Spain.