World Number One Tiger Woods claimed his 11th Major title with victory at The Open Championship at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, on Sunday to once again underline his status as the best player in the world.
The year's third Major provided the world's leading players the chance to boost their HSBC Major Championships Rankings and hopefully ensure an invite to the Wentworth showpiece in September by cementing one of the ten qualifying berths available via this particular criteria.
Woods, who was already confirmed for this year's HSBC World Match Play Championship and HSBC Champions, completed his emotional Open triumph with a five under par 67 for a winning total of 18 under par and a two shot victory over compatriot Chris DiMarco.
South Africa's Ernie Els, a five-time winner of the HSBC World Match Play Championship, finished third at 13 under par with another American, Jim Furyk, a further shot back in fourth place.
Furyk's performance at Hoylake, along with his showing at the Masters (T22nd) and the US Open (T2nd), ensures that he has qualified for the HSBC World Match Play as he can finish no lower than tenth in the HSBC Major Championship Ranking.
Other names to further their chances of qualifying for this year's match play were Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Spain's Sergio Garcia who both made big moves up the ranking as a result of their performances at Hoylake.
Also already confirmed for this year's HSBC World Match Play Championship, that will take place from September 14-17, 2006, at the Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, are defending champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand, and England's David Howell and Simon Khan.
The elite field will once again consist of 16 golfers, who will qualify through the HSBC Major Championships Ranking (x2), HSBC European Tournament Rankings (x10) and the European Order of Merit (x2).
In addition the match play showpiece welcomes the World Number One as of January 1, 2006, (Woods) and the defending champion (Campbell).
With a total of ten places available via the HSBC Major Tournaments Ranking the door remains open for anyone who can mount a challenge at Medinah when the world's elite battle it out for the US PGA Championship title.
In particular the likes of Fijian Vijay Singh, England's Luke Donald, Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and South Africa's Retief Goosen will be looking boost their chances of a return to Wentworth.
Click here for the latest HSBC Major Championships Rankings
