American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, three-time European Tour winner Francesco Molinari, 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Champion Pablo Larrazábal, two-time US PGA Tour winner Jonas Blixt and local favourite and winner of the 2006 World Match Play Championship, Paul Casey, complete the 16-man field for next week’s 2014 Volvo World Match Play Championship, held on the International Course at The London Golf Club, a European Tour Destination.
The field boasts ten of the world’s top 50, with 15 players ranked within the top 70 of the Official World Golf Ranking. There are a total of 13 nationalities represented, with a combined 112 titles amassed by the 16 players.
The quintet will be joined in Kent by six members of Europe’s triumphant 2014 Ryder Cup team: defending champion Graeme McDowell, reigning Race to Dubai winner Henrik Stenson, and European Tour champions Thomas Bjørn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher.
The additional qualified players are the 2013 runner-up Thongchai Jaidee, the 2014 Volvo China Open Champion Alexander Levy, four-time European Tour winner Joost Luiten, two-time European Tour champion Shane Lowry and the 2014 Irish Open winner Mikko Ilonen.
Ryder Cup rookie Reed, who boasted an unbeaten record in four matches at The Gleneagles Hotel, said: “Although we suffered a very disappointing loss, I enjoyed my first Ryder Cup and can’t wait to get back out there to play in another match play event in the UK. With six of the European Ryder Cup players in the field, I am excited to be representing the Stars and Stripes overseas once again at The London Golf Club.”
Casey, who won the KLM Open last month, is the beneficiary of the sole sponsor’s invitation.
He said: “I love the match play format, and am very grateful to receive this invitation for the 2014 Volvo World Match Play Championship. After missing out on being a part of such an exciting European Ryder Cup team performance, this tournament will give me the chance to get my match play fix for the year as well as the chance to play in front of my home fans for only the second time this season.
“I’ve had a great couple of months, having become a dad and winning my first title of the year in Holland. So I’m feeling healthy, good about my game, and really looking forward to a great week.”
The 16-man field is now finalised for the €2.25million event, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary since the inaugural Championship in 1964, won by Arnold Palmer at Wentworth Club.
This year the field will be split into four groups of four in the group stages, before the leading two players per group proceed to the knockout phase, which will be played over the weekend. As a result, the tournament will now be played over five days, starting on Wednesday October 15.
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