Luke Donald, currently Number 14 on the Official World Golf Ranking, has selected recent BMW International Open winner, David Howell, to join him in England’’s bid to defend the World Golf Championships – Algarve World Cup in Portugal at the Victoria Clube de Golf, Vilamoura, Portugal, from November 17-20.
Howell, the World Number 19, takes the place of Paul Casey who, in tandem with Donald, won the trophy by two strokes from host nation Spain at the Real Club de Golf Sevilla last year.
Donald, as the highest ranked Englishman, had the option of selecting his partner and the Ryder Cup player admitted it was a hard decision to nominate one of the victorious 2004 Ryder Cup Team ahead of another.
He said: “"My first step was to discuss the situation with Paul and he fully understood that I wanted to make my decision based on current form. I have spoken to David and he is looking forward to representing England in Portugal. We both feel that we have a great chance of defending the trophy."
Sergio Garcia, Number Six in the world and one half of the 2004 Spanish side with Miguel Angel Jiménez, has confirmed that he will play in the Algarve along with a partner to be confirmed.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who finished second in his native country in 2000 with Eduardo Romero, will also take part. The 2005 BMW Championship winner will, in common with several countries, make his nomination of a partner in due course.
Wales will be represented by two-time European Tour winner, Stephen Dodd, and the in-form Bradley Dredge while Scotland’’s pairing will be Stephen Gallacher and Scott Drummond.
Other teams confirmed are South Africa, led by The Barclays Scottish Open champion, Tim Clark; France, for whom Ryder Cup player Thomas Levet has accepted the chance to play at the Victoria Clube de Golf; Germany, represented by Alex Cejka and Marcel Siem and The Netherlands (Maarten Lafeber and Robert-Jan Derksen)
