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 Asia's leading player to get World Match Play berth

Asia’s leading player on the Official World Golf Rankings and the 2009 Volvo China Open champion will gain exemptions into the new-look Volvo World Match Play Championship next year.

The tournament, which has been held annually at Wentworth, England since 1964, will not be staged this year before moving to Spain’s Finca Cortesin course. An approximately US$2.5 million will at stake for the elite field of 16 players split into four groups.

Places will be offered to defending champion Ernie Els, the leading world-ranked player from each of Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia and the Africa/Middle East region; four more from both the world rankings and the European Tour Order of Merit, and finally next year's Volvo China Open champion.

The groups of four will play each other on the first two days over 18 holes, with the group winners progressing to the 36-hole semi-finals on the Saturday.

Volvo is a major sponsor in world golf, including on the Asian Tour. Apart from the Volvo China Open, the Volvo Masters of Asia forms an integral part of the Asian Tour Schedule as it is the season-ending event.

June 26, 2008