Four Australasians make HSBC World Match Play
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2005 HSBC World Match Play Championship | General | 31 Aug 2005
HSBC’s attempt to get the World Match Play back to where it once was as one of the more prestigious events in World golf, has suffered a major blow this season with the non-participation of several the world’s leading players.
The event, which has gained official status on the European Tour in the last two years as a result of its field being finalised via a specific qualifying criteria, will this year see only one of the current world top ten in its line up, Retief Goosen.
Tiger Woods has not played the event since 1998 when he was beaten by Mark O’Meara, previous winner and runner up Vijay Singh is not playing, Phil Mickelson has never played the event and six time winner Ernie Els is of course sidelined through injury.
The event’s misfortune is to the benefit of three Australians in Mark Hensby, Steve Elkington and Geoff Ogilvy, who no doubt made the field thanks to their efforts in majors in 2005.
Michael Campbell’s Pinehurst deeds have given him another license to print money in a week where first round losers earn Ł60,000.
The event will be played at Wentworth from September 15th to 18th a full three weeks earlier than has been the case in previous years.
The Field
Angel Cabrera
Bernhard Langer
Colin Montgomerie
David Howell
Geoff Ogilvy
Jose Maria Olazabal
Kenneth Ferrie
Luke Donald
Mark Hensby
Michael Campbell
Paul McGinley
Retief Goosen
Steve Elkington
Thomas Bjorn
Tim Clark
Trevor Immelman
Photo – Anthony Powter
