Scott Drummond of Scotland remains on course for a return to the West Course at Wentworth Club in October as he leads the HSBC European Tournament Ranking at the halfway stage with the top two players qualifying for the HSBC World Match Play Championship from October 14 -17.
The two leading players, accumulating the most World Ranking Points from the four principal events – the Volvo PGA Championship, Smurfit European Open, Omega European Masters and the Heritage Tournament – will qualify for the newly extended 16-man field at this year’’s HSBC World Match Play.
Drummond’’s stunning victory in the Volvo PGA Championship over the same West Course in May has put him in a strong position to earn a place in the elite field.
Retief Goosen, winner of the Smurfit European Open, leaps into second place but of course has already qualified for the event through his victory in the 2004 US Open Championship. Angel Cabrera effectively in second place, 9.7 points behind Drummond, has a 7.75 point lead over Joakim Haeggman, effectively in third place. Peter O’’Malley, Richard Green and Lee Westwood in effectively fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively, have all registered major advances, forcing Nick Faldo down to tied eighth.
With just two HSBC European Tournaments Ranking events to go the battle for the two spots in this year’’s HSBC World Match Play Championship is really hotting up. In addition to the two players from the HSBC European Tournaments Ranking, the defending champion and World Number One qualify along with the leading ten players accumulating the most World Ranking Points in the year’’s four Major Championships, plus the leading two European Tour players, not otherwise qualified, from the Volvo Order of Merit after The Heritage.
The HSBC European Tournaments Ranking after the SMURFIT EUROPEAN OPEN is:
Ranking Player Country
1 Scott Drummond Sco 32.00
2 Retief Goosen SA 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
8= Nick Faldo Eng 7.90
8= Anders Hansen Den 7.90
8= Darren Clarke N Ir 7.90
Currently qualified for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship with a first prize of £1 million, the largest in world golf, are:
Defending Champion – Ernie Els
World Number One – Tiger Woods
Masters Champion – Phil Mickelson
US Open Champion – Retief Goosen
