Retief Goosen, the new US Open Champion, joins Phil Mickelson, the 2004 Masters Champion, defending champion and five time winner, Ernie Els, and Tiger Woods, the World Number One, in qualifying for the HSBC World Match Play Championship, which boasts the largest first prize in world golf at £1,000,000.
Goosen’’s second US Open title came after a close final round battle with Mickelson, the only other player to finish under par on the tough Shinnecock Hills course near New York.
The victory propels the South African to second on the 2004 Volvo Order of Merit, sixth on the US PGA Tour money list and seventh on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Jeff Maggert, a two time US PGA Tour winner, finished in third place and has moved up the HSBC Major Championships Ranking to fifth behind Choi Kyoung-Ju in fourth spot. Both players move closer to securing places in the 2004 HSBC World Match Play which will be played over the West Course at Wentworth Club from October 14 – 17.
The field for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship has increased from 12 to 16. Qualification is now based on performances in golf's four Majors, four leading European Tour Tournaments, plus the leading two European Tour players, not otherwise qualified, from the Volvo Order of Merit after the Heritage Tournament.
The current ranking tables are as follows:
2004 HSBC Major Championships Ranking: (the leading ten available players, not otherwise qualified, from the HSBC Major Championships Ranking as at the conclusion of the 2004 US PGA Championship on August 15, 2004)
1 Phil Mickelson USA 80.00
2 Retief Goosen SAf 54.94
3 Ernie Els SAf 36.75
4 Choi Kyoung-Ju Kor 22.10
5 Jeff Maggert USA 20.00
6 Sergio Garcia Sp 16.66
7 Chris DiMarco USA 14.46
8= Bernhard Langer Ger 13.50
8= Mike Weir Can 13.50
8= Shigeki Maruyama Jpn 13.50
HSBC European Tournaments Ranking: (the leading two available European Tour Members, not otherwise qualified, accumulating the most Official World Golf Ranking Points from the following four European Tour Tournaments, Volvo PGA Championship, Smurfit European Open, Omega European Masters,The Heritage Tournament)
The Ranking after the Volvo PGA Championship is:
- Scott Drummond Sco 32.00
- Angel Cabrera Arg 19.20
- Joakim Haeggman Swe 12.80
4= Nick Faldo Eng 7.90
4= Anders Hansen Den 7.90
4= Darren Clarke N Ire 7.90
7 Ernie Els SA 5.67
8 Darren Fichardt SA 4.80
8= Thomas Levet Fr 4.80
8= Miguel Angel Jimenez Sp 4.80
As already indicated, the final two places in the 16 player field go to the leading, available European Tour Members not otherwise qualified from the Volvo Order of Merit, as of September 27, 2004.
Prize money for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship will increase by £140,000 to £2,440,000 with the following breakdown:
Winner £1,000,000
Runner-up £ 400,000
Losing Semi-Finalist (x 2) £120,000
Losing Quarter-Finalist (x 4) £ 80,000
First Round Loser (x 8) £ 60,000
