Todd Hamilton qualifies for HSBC World Match Play

BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship | General | 20 Jul 2004

Following his impressive performance in winning the Open Championship at Royal Troon, American Todd Hamilton qualifies for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship. He joins Phil Mickelson, the 2004 Masters Champion; Retief Goosen, the 2004 US Open Champion; the Defending Champion and 5 time World Match Play Champion, Ernie Els and the World No. 1 Tiger Woods, who have already qualified for this year’s HSBC World Match Play Championship with a first prize of £1 million (approximately US$1.8 million), the largest in world golf.

Todd’s first Major title came after a four hole play-off battle with Ernie Els, after both players had finished at 10 under par in regulation play. Following a confidence-boosting win earlier this year at the US Honda Classic, Todd was able to master the difficult final day conditions at Royal Troon to snatch the title from Els by a single shot.

Englishman, Lee Westwood made a final day charge up the leader board and finished in 4th place behind Phil Mickelson and now lies at 9th in the HSBC Major Championships Ranking. K J Choi from Korea and Canadian Mike Weir, in 5th and 6th places respectively, are virtually assured of their places in this year’s HSBC World Match Play to be played over the West Course at Wentworth Club, October 14 – 17.

The field for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship has been increased from 12 to 16. Qualification is now based on performances in golf’s four Majors, four principal European Tour Tournaments, plus the leading two European Tour players, not otherwise qualified, from the Volvo Order of Merit after the Heritage Tournament.

The current ranking tables are as follows:

2004 HSBC Major Championships Ranking – after the Open Championship: (the leading 10 available players, not otherwise qualified, from the HSBC Major Championships Ranking as at the conclusion of the Open Championship on August 15, 2004)

1 Phil Mickelson USA (100.00)
2 Ernie Els SAf (66.75)
3 Retief Goosen SAf (63.44)
4 Todd Hamilton USA (51.75)
5 K J Choi Kor (26.23)
6 Mike Weir Can (20.75)
7 Jeff Maggert USA (20.00)
8 Davis Love USA (18.71)
9 Lee Westwood Eng (16.88)
10 Sergio Garcia Sp (16.66)
11 Shigeki Maruyama Jpn (15.63)
12 Chris DiMarco USA (15.21)
13 Tiger Woods USA (14.10)
14 Bernhard Langer Ger (13.50)
15 Steve Flesch USA (13.25)
16 Vijay Singh Fij (13.15)
17 Nick Price Zim (12.49)
18 Scott Verplank USA (12.38)
19 Thomas Levet Fra (11.00)
20 Kirk Triplett USA (10.87)

HSBC European Tournaments Ranking: (the leading two available European Tour Members, not otherwise qualified, accumulating the most Official World Golf Ranking Points from the following four European Tour Tournaments, Volvo PGA Championship, Smurfit European Open, Omega European Masters, The Heritage Tournament)

The HSBC European Tournaments Ranking after the Smurfit European Open is:

1 Scott Drummond Sco (32.00)
2 Retief Goosen SAf (23.68)
3 Angel Cabrera Arg (22.30)
4 Joakim Haeggman Swe (14.55)
5 Peter O’Malley Aus (11.15)
6 Richard Green Aus (10.70)
7 Lee Westwood Eng (8.67)
T8 Nick Faldo Eng (7.90)
T8 Anders Hansen Den (7.90)
T8 Darren Clarke N Ir (7.90)

As already indicated the final two places in the 16 player field go to the leading available European Tour Members not otherwise qualified from the Volvo Order of Merit, as of September 27, 2004.

Source – HSBC