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World Match Play announces name and venue change

23/06/2008

The World Match Play Championship is to move from its traditional home at Wentworth to a new course in Spain from 2009, the organisers have announced.

In addition to this switch, the title sponsor is to change from high street bank HSBC to Volvo, who currently own the naming rights to the season-ending Volvo Masters which is to be rebranded as the Dubai World Championship.

The World Match Play is taking a year off in 2008 before the Finca Cortesín Golf Club near Malaga in Andalucia takes over as the host venue next year.

In addition to the changes in title sponsor and venue there will be an increase in prize money, with a total pot of €3.25 million of which €750,000 will go to the winner.

And there will also be a new 'Champions League-style' structure to the event, which will see the 16-man field comprised of players ranked highest in their respective regions, as well as the reigning champion; the four highest-ranked players not already qualified; the four top players in the Order of Merit (to be renamed the Race to Dubai); and the Volvo China Open champion.

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady said: "Both Volvo and the World Match Play Championship have a superb golfing pedigree which makes them ideal partners.

"Volvo have title sponsored no fewer than 66 tournaments on the European Tour international schedule, and the World Match Play Championship has a rich tradition going back to 1964.

"We are delighted that the Championship will continue to be a celebration to the memory of its founder, Mark McCormack, and also excited by the new format.

"We congratulate the IMG on continuing their support of the European Tour, and we look forward to welcoming the Finca Cortesin Golf Club as a new host venue."

The tournament's inaugural winner Arnold Palmer also welcomed the announcement, saying: "I take great pleasure each year in following the World Match Play event.

"It was yet another of Mark McCormack's fantastic ideas, and I remember being thrilled to win the inaugural event in 1964.

"It has been fascinating to see how the event has evolved over the years. I am delighted that this great Match Play Championship continues to hold it's own on the international stage."