Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez and America’s Ryan Moore are the latest stars to confirm they will play in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesín from May 19-22, 2011.
They are part of a stellar field which includes Paul Casey, Nicolas Colsaerts, Johan Edfors, Ross Fisher, Retief Goosen, Martin Kaymer, Søren Kjeldsen, Paul Lawrie, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter, Alvaro Quirós, Charl Schwartzel, Lee Westwood and Y E Yang.
Jiménez, winner of 18 European Tour titles including the 1999 Volvo Masters, qualifies for the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship as a result of Robert Karlsson’s withdrawal and is delighted to representing Spain on home soil.
He said: “I haven’t played in the World Match Play Championship since 2004 when I reached the semi-finals so I am very happy to have qualified again. I am looking forward to playing at Finca Cortesín as it hosts this historic Championship for the second time after such a successful move there in 2009.
“I think Alvaro (Quiros) and I will be the only Spanish players in a really strong field of 24 players so we will have to do all we can to reward the support of our home fans.”
World Number 40 Ryan Moore who won the 2009 Wyndham Championship and took some notable scalps en route to reaching the quarter-finals of the 2011 Accenture Match Play Championship added: “I am really eager to make my debut at the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship. I have heard so much about Finca Cortesín and this great tournament that I can’t wait to get there. It is a great field and I am already trying to work out what group I’ll be in.”
Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management Golf, said: “We are delighted with the way the field is filling up for our second Volvo World Match Play Championship. Finca Cortesín have prepared meticulously and the course is in perfect condition ready to host the world’s best players.
“The changes we have made to the date and the qualification criteria have really been successful in gathering this already quality field and we are now looking forward to finalising the field and enjoying an amazing week of tantalising matches.”
On arrival at Finca Cortesín in May the players will be divided into eight groups of three players to be played out on Thursday and Friday with 16 players progressing to Saturday in a knock-out format with the semis and final played on Sunday.
The prize fund for the 2011 Championship has increased to €3.4 million with a first prize of €800,000, the highest on the European Tour outside of the Majors, World Golf Championship events and the Dubai World Golf Championship.
For more information please visitwww.volvoworldmatchplay.com
