Angel Cabrera, the reigning Masters Champion, Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy and the English trio of Simon Dyson, Ross Fisher and Oliver Wilson complete the 16 man field at the 2009 Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin, Spain, from 29 October to 1 November.
That illustrious group join Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, the five players qualified via their leading positions in The Race to Dubai Rankings.
All 16 places in the field are now filled and with 11 of the players in the top 30 on the Official World Golf Ranking and 11 nationalities represented, it is one of the strongest and most international fields assembled for the World Match Play Championship.
Cabrera, making his fifth appearance in the World Match Play Championship, explained how much he is looking forward to this years tournament, saying: “I reached the final at the last World Match Play in 2007 and was really disappointed to lose out in the final to Ernie Els.
“I am very excited to qualify and give myself another chance to win this great Championship. I think I will enjoy the change to the round robin format and I am also looking forward to the playing at the new venue, Finca Cortesin, which I hear has some very dramatic match play holes.”
McIlroy, who won his first title, the Dubai Desert Classic, earlier this year and is currently leading The Race to Dubai, explained: “I love the freedom that match play brings and having had some good wins in Arizona earlier this year and really enjoyed the Vivendi Trophy, I am excited to get to Finca Cortesin for some more.
“It will be my first World Match Play and I am really looking forward to it. The list of past winners is incredible and it is a great field again this year so if I do well I think this could be a big week for me on The Race to Dubai - especially if I mange to get through the group stages.”
Dyson, whose performances this year have elevated him to 44th on the Official World Ranking, added: “I’ve had a great year, but winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was huge for me. As a result, it is my first time qualifying for the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
“I am thoroughly looking forward to the week and it will also give me the opportunity to improve my standings in The Race to Dubai Ranking still further.”
Fisher, who showed his match play skills when he stormed to the semi finals of the WGC-Accenture World Match Play earlier this year explained: “I think my game and temperament are well suited to match play and I cope with the pressures well. I am still looking for my first win of the season and certainly the Volvo World Match Play Championship is a title I would love to win.
“I watched it every year at Wentworth as a junior, always wishing I was in the field so it is exciting to finally qualify and get my shot at a title I’ve dreamed of winning since I was a young boy.”
Wilson, whose consistent performances have taken him to Number 35 in the World, and is one of ten players making his debut in the Championship, is similarly thrilled. He said: “I am thrilled to have made it into my first World Match Play Championship.
“It is one of those elite events that you watch from afar as you are climbing the professional ranks so it is very special to have actually qualified for such a limited field. I had a couple of great scalps at the Accenture Match Play earlier this year, beating KJ Choi and Anthony Kim, so I am really looking forward having a great week and hopefully improving my standing in The Race to Dubai Rankings.”
The player field in alphabetical order is as follows:
Robert Allenby (Aus)
Angel Cabrera (Arg)
Paul Casey (Eng)
Simon Dyson (Eng)
Ross Fisher (Eng)
Sergio Garcia (Esp)
Retief Goosen (Zaf)
Martin Kaymer (Ger)
Anthony Kim (USA)
Rory McIlroy (NIR)
Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind)
Henrik Stenson (Swe)
Scott Strange (Aus)
Lee Westwood (Eng)
Camilo Villegas (Col)
Oliver Wilson (Eng)
