Australian Scott Strange’s victory in the Volvo China Open has secured his place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at the Finca Cortesín Hotel, Golf and Spa in Andalucía, Spain, which, subject to European Tour approval, is scheduled to be played from October 29 to November 1, 2009.
Strange won his second European Tour title by a single shot from Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño in an exciting finish at Beijing CBD International Golf Club to become the first qualifier for the 16-man field.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted to win the Volvo China Open and it is a huge bonus to become the first player assured of a place in the line-up for the 2009 Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesín.
“I always watched the World Match Play Championship on TV as a kid growing up in Australia and I am conscious of all the great players to have won this great event, especially the Australian contingent of David Graham, Graham Marsh and Greg Norman.”
He continued, “The Volvo World Match Play Championship occupies a key position in The Race to Dubai, so to secure my place in the line-up so early in the season is fantastic.”
“As ever, Volvo did a great job in China and I am sure the new look match play under Volvo’s stewardship will bring Volvo’s hallmark of quality and will be a huge success.”
Strange’s Volvo China Open win earned him a guaranteed minimum US$150,000 even if he does not proceed beyond the innovative ‘Champion’s League-style,’ group stages within the unique new Volvo World Match Play format.
But the man whose Chinese victory elevated him to 20th place in The Race to Dubai, is not going to Finca Cortesín just to make up the numbers, saying: “You have to believe you can win any tournament you are in and I am now confident I can compete at this elite level.”
With a total prize fund of €3.25 million, and a first prize of €750,000, a place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship could significantly enhance a player’s position on the ‘Race to Dubai’, with all 16 players chasing a place in the end-of-season showpiece.
Per Ericsson, President & CEO of Volvo Event Management Golf, said, “Our congratulations go to Scott Strange as the first qualifier for our inaugural Volvo World Match Play Championship field and I’m sure he will represent Australia with dignity and distinction. I am looking forward to a mouth-watering summer of golf and it will be fascinating to see which stars secure their places through our new qualification criteria to join Scott Strange on the first tee at Finca Cortesin.”
Looking forward to welcoming Strange to Finca Cortesín, 9,750km and 192 days hence is Vicente Rubio, a Director at the luxury golf resort and hotel.
In Beijing to witness Scott Strange claim the first of 16 places in the Volvo World Match Play Championship, Rubio said, “We have a great Volvo China Open champion and he richly deserves his place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in October.”
He added, “What I can assure him of is a warm welcome and unrivalled service in the Finca Cortesín resort, and one of the most spectacular and challenging macth play courses in world golf.”
This is the 45th edition of the World Match Play Championship and Volvo’s first year as title sponsor having hosted the 21st and final Volvo Masters at Club de Golf Valderrama in 2008.
The Championship has benefited from a comprehensive ‘makeover’; along with a new title sponsor / co-promoter in Volvo, bringing enormous experience and an unrivalled integrity and heritage in golf sponsorship, a revised date and a prestigious new venue on mainland Europe, there is also a new and clearly-defined set of new qualifying criteria as well as a refreshing new championship format, all adding-up to an exhilarating future for one of world golf’s most traditional and evocative tournaments.
The Championship will be held in Spain for the first time in its history moving from Wentworth Club as 16 of the world’s best players go head-to-head in classic match play golf over the magnificent 7,439-yard course at Finca Cortesin designed by Cabell B Robinson.
The change in qualifying criteria announced last year will ensure the most cosmopolitan and international World Match Play Championship field in its 45-year history.
The Official World Golf Ranking and The Race to Dubai will be used to identify the 16-man field with leading players from the continents of Europe, Africa/Middle East, North America, South America, Asia and Australasia qualifying along with the defending Champion and winner of the 2009 Volvo China Open.
The Tournament will also benefit from an innovative new playing formula as the players will contest a new look ‘Champion’s League,’ style match play format with the players divided into groups of four where they will play each member of their group over full 18 hole matches.
The winner of each group will qualify for the semi finals which, along with the final, will be played over 36 holes in traditional and compelling head-to head-match play golf, considered by many to be the purest form of the Royal and Ancient game.
