HSBC World Match Play field increases to sixteen

BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship | General | 30 Jun 2004

The field for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship has increased to sixteen players from the twelve of previous years. In addition to the Defending Champion and World No.1 qualification is now based on performances in golf’s four Major’s, four principle European Tour Tournaments plus the leading two European Tour players, not otherwise qualified, from the Volvo Order of Merit after the Heritage Tournament.

The four principle European Tour Tournaments, group together as the HSBC European Tournaments Ranking, are the Volvo PGA Championship, this week’s Smurfit European Open, the Omega European Masters and the Heritage Tournament. The two European Tour Players accumulating the most World Ranking Points from these four tournaments, who have not otherwise qualified, will gain entry into the Championship which is now officially sanctioned by the European Tour and earning World Ranking Points.

The current HSBC European Tournaments Ranking going into the Smurfit European Open is:

1 Scott Drummond Sco (32.00)
2 Angel Cabrera Arg (19.20)
3 Joakim Haeggman Swe (12.80)
T4 Nick Faldo Eng (7.90)
T4 Anders Hansen Den (7.90)
T4 Darren Clarke N Ire (7.90)
7 Ernie Els SA (5.67)
T8 Darren Fichardt SA (4.80)
T8 Thomas Levet Fr (4.80)
T8 Miguel Angel Jimenez Sp (4.80)

Currently qualified for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship with a first prize of £1 million, the largest in world golf are:

Defending Champion – Ernie Els
World No. 1 – Tiger Woods
US Masters Champion – Phil Mickleson
US Open Champion – Retief Goosen

Source – HSBC