Todd Hamilton is the latest player to earn a place in the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship following his outstanding victory in The 133rd Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon.
He joins fellow American Phil Mickelson, the 2004 Masters Champion; South African Retief Goosen, the 2004 US Open Champion; the Defending Champion and five time World Match Play Champion, Ernie Els, also of South Africa and the World Number One Tiger Woods of America, all of whom have already qualified for this year’’s HSBC World Match Play Championship with a first prize of £1 million (approximately US$1.8 million), the largest in world golf.
Hamilton’’s first Major Championship title came after a four hole play-off with Els after both players had finished on ten under par in regulation play.
England’’s Lee Westwood made a final day charge up the leader board and finished in fourth place and now lies ninth in the HSBC Major Championships Ranking. K J Choi from Korea and Canadian Mike Weir, in fifth and sixth places respectively, are virtually assured of their places in this year’’s HSBC World Match Play to be played over the West Course at Wentworth Club from October 14 – 17.
The field for the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship has been increased from 12 to 16 players. Qualification is now based on performances in golf's four Major Championships, four principal European Tour events, 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 - after the Open Golf Championship: (the leading ten available players, not otherwise qualified, from the HSBC MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS RANKING as at the conclusion of the Open Championship on August 15, 2004)
1 Phil Mickelson USA 100.00
2 Ernie Els SAf 66.75
3 Retief Goosen SAf 63.44
4 Todd Hamilton USA 51.75
5 K J Choi Kor 26.23
6 Mike Weir Can 20.75
7 Jeff Maggert USA 20.00
8 Davis Love III USA 18.71
9 Lee Westwood Eng 16.88
10 Sergio Garcia Sp 16.66
11 Shigeki Maruyama Jpn 15.63
12 Chris DiMarco USA 15.21
13 Tiger Woods USA 14.10
14 Bernhard Langer Ger 13.50
15 Steve Flesch USA 13.25
16 Vijay Singh Fij 13.15
17 Nick Price Zim 12.49
18 Scott Verplank USA 12.38
19 Thomas Levet Fra 11.00
20 Kirk Triplett USA 10.87
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 – the Volvo PGA Championship, Smurfit European Open, Omega European Masters and The Heritage Tournament)
The HSBC European Tournaments Ranking after the SMURFIT EUROPEAN OPEN is:
1 Scott Drummond Sco 32.00
2 Retief Goosen SAf 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
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
