HSBC World Match Play qualification begins in Dubai
BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2005 HSBC World Match Play Championship | General | 01 Mar 2005
Qualifying for the richest first prize in golf, the 2005 HSBC World Match Play Championship, begins next week with the Dubai Desert Classic, the first of four tournaments counting towards the HSBC European Tournaments Ranking.
The two European Tour players, not otherwise qualified, accumulating the most Official World Golf Ranking Points from the Dubai Desert Classic, the Johnnie Walker Classic, the BMW Championship and the Smurfit European Open, will qualify for the 16-man HSBC World Match Play Championship, which this year moves forward a month in the golfing calendar to September 15-18.
The leading two European Tour players, not otherwise qualified, from the European Tour Order of Merit after the BMW International Open also qualify for the event, which takes place over four days of 36 hole match play on the West Course at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England.
For the second successive year, the HSBC World Match Play Championship is an officially sanctioned tournament with the results counting towards the European Tour Order of Merit and Official World Golf Ranking.
Last year, Ernie Els of South Africa created history by winning the title for a record sixth time to pick up the cheque for Ł1 million – the largest first prize in world golf – when he defeated England’s Lee Westwood by 2 and 1 in the final.
Meanwhile, HSBC has been active in the off-season, creating the richest first prize in the LPGA’s history – US$500,000 – with the launch of the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship, the only individual match play tournament in women’s golf. The tournament will be played over the Independence Day weekend, 30 June – 3 July, 2005, at the Hamilton Farm Golf Club in New Jersey, USA.
Stephen Green, HSBC’s Group Chief Executive, said: "The newly European Tour sanctioned 16-man 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship brought intense competition and record crowds to Wentworth. This year we’ve moved the tournament forward a month to September, as we work closely with The European Tour to further improve the event for players and spectators alike."
“The men’s event has proved so successful that we’ve created the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship, which we hope will prove a milestone in the development of women’s golf.”
2005 HSBC World Match Play Championship Qualification
1. The defending champion
2. The World Number One on the Official World Golf Ranking as at March 31, 2005
3. The leading ten available players, not otherwise qualified (under criteria 1 or 2), from the HSBC Major Championship Rankings as at the conclusion of the 2005 US PGA Championship on August 14, 2005
4. The leading two available European Tour Members from the HSBC European Tournament Rankings, not otherwise qualified (under criteria 1,2 or 3). These rankings will reflect the actual World Ranking points earned by European Tour Members in the following four events: Dubai Desert Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic, BMW Championship and Smurfit European Open
5. The leading two available European Tour Members, not otherwise qualified under criteria 1,2,3 or 4, from the European Tour Order of Merit, as of August 29, 2005
Source – European Tour
