Six time HSBC World Match Play Champion, Ernie Els, has qualified for the 2007 HSBC World Match Play Championship following his impressive third place finish at the US PGA Championship.
Justin Rose and Retief Goosen’s consistent performances across this year’s four Major Championships has also seen them finish in the top 10 on the 2007 HSBC Major Championships Ranking and earn a coveted place in the 2007 HSBC World Match Play Championship.
The leading ten players on the 2007 HSBC Major Championships Ranking automatically qualify for the 16 man field competing over the West Course at Wentworth Club from October 11-14 .
Giles Morgan, HSBC’s Head of Sports Sponsorship and Marketing, said, “We have a great mix of qualifiers for this year’s tournament and having only just sent the invitations out, we have immediately had a number of enthusiastic response back already. We will hope to confirm around half of the field later this week.”
FINAL 2007 HSBC Major Championships Ranking:
Ranking Player Points
1 Tiger Woods 203.04
2 Padraig Harrington 119.95
3 Zach Johnson 109.25
4 Angel Cabrera 107.65
5 Jim Furyk 69.59
6 Ernie Els 69.25
7 Sergio Garcia 60.00
8 Woody Austin 60.00
9 Justin Rose 54.71
10 Retief Goosen 53.86
11 Rory Sabbatini 45.58
12 Jerry Kelly 40.88
13 Andres Romero 40.00
14 David Toms 39.95
15 Niclas Fasth 38.55
16 Scott Verplank 36.23
17 Hunter Mahan 35.88
18 Paul Casey 33.99
19 Stuart Appleby 31.90
20 Arron Oberholser 31.55
The leading two European Tour Members on the 2007 HSBC European Tournaments Ranking, which accumulates the Official World Golf Ranking Points earned from the HSBC Champions, Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, Johnnie Walker Classic, BMW Championship, BMW International Open, Open De France ALSTOM and the Smurfit Kappa European Open qualify for the HSBC World Match Play Championship.
FINAL 2007 HSBC European Tournaments Ranking:
Ranking Player Points
1 Anders Hansen 72.39
2 Niclas Fasth 65.96
3 Paul Casey 60.61
4 Colin Montgomerie 58.86
5 YE Yang 52.00
6 Richard Sterne 46.34
7 Anton Haig 42.91
8 Retief Goosen 39.29
9 Miguel A Jimenez 38.55
10 Justin Rose 38.40
The final two spots will go to the leading two European Tour players, not already qualified, on the European Tour Order of Merit, as of 24th September.
Now in its 44th year, the tournament is officially sanctioned by the European Tour with the results counting towards the European Tour Order of Merit and Official World Golf Ranking Points. Total prize money will be £2,440,000 with all matches being decided over 36 holes.
For more information on the qualification criteria for the HSBC World Match Play Championship please visitwww.hsbcgolf.com
