Will Els make it seven at HSBC?

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2007 HSBC World Match Play Championship | Preview | 10 Oct 2007

The HSBC World Match Play Championship takes place this week at the historical venue for the event, the Burma Road course at the Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water south west of London.

The event brings together sixteen of the world’s best players in a head to head knockout event where the winner will receive a massive £1 million with the runner up to receive £400,000. The final therefore will carry a difference of £600,000 between the winner and runner up prizes. That difference alone is worth more than all but a few of the first prizes on the European Tour, highlighting the enourmous sum of money on offer. Even a first round loss provides a prize of £60,000.

In recent years the players involved in the tournament have gained a place in the field via a defined process rather than the previous system where the field was based on the leading players who would make themselves available and many of them IMG clients. As a result of this new criteria however, a percentage of the money won now counts towards the European Tour money list as every player worldwide now has a chance to actually play the event if he performs in the events which count towards qualification.

A victory by any one of the leading five players on the European Tour money list, all of whom are here, could mathematically take them to the top of that money list by week’s end.

The event is played on the Harry Colt designed West Course at Wentworth Golf Club which lends itself so beautifully to this format. The course’s linear design through the existing mature vegetation and some of the most expensive real estate in all of England, adds significantly to the intimacy of the one on one match ups.

Ernie Els a resident of the adjacent estate, a member of the Wentworth Golf Club, their touring professional and a six time winner of this very event, has been involved in upgrading or rather modernising the course to maintain its relevance with modern day professional golf. It’s a sad but necessary requirement for even the best of layouts.

Tiger Woods played the event for the first time in eight years last year but he was beaten by Shaun Micheel in round one and is not here this year and neither are the other three of the four leading players of the world, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker. That aside however the balance of the field is a good mix of the leading 50 players in the world, the exception being Jerry Kelly who is currently ranked number 55.

Paul Casey is the defending champion having beaten Shaun Micheel in the final last year and he should advance to the second round this year as, because he is the number one seed, he faces Kelly in round one.

Goosen might struggle against Angel Cabrera in round one as the current US Open Champion has often played well at this venue in the PGA Championship.

Justin Rose and Hunter Mahan are two of the most promising players in the game and are both in good form but I will give this one to the local.

Soren Hansen gets his chance against the much improved and world number 8, Rory Sabbatini. Both are playing well although Sabbatini should get home.

Anders Hansen has a great record at this venue at the PGA Championship but he is up against Padriag Harrington in what is an intriguing match up. I will give it to the Irishman however.

Henrik Stenson and Woody Austin face each other with Austin clearly in the best current form. He performed well at the Presidents Cup and has generally played better in recent weeks than his opponent. Stenson did win the Accenture Match Play earlier in the year but he was playing much better then.

Niclas Fasth and Andrews Romero are the second to last match and although Romero is one of the most improved players in the world in 2007 he has lost his way in recent starts. Fasth on the other hand has been very impressive and might have the edge.

In the final match of the day, two Wentworth specialists, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie face each other. Els has won this event a record six occasions and Montgomerie only once but Montgomerie has played the PGA Championship at this same venue very well. Els to win however.

It would be no surprise if Els won this event for the 7th occasion.