Volvo World Match Play Championship Preview

The European Tour travels to England and The London Golf Club in Kent for the Volvo World Match Play Championship

Lowdown:

The European Tour moves from soggy and damp Portugal to an autumnal England and The London Club in Kent for the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

The London Club has never hosted this tournament before but has held the European Open on a couple of occasions on its other course, The Heritage, in 2008 and 2009.

The International Course over which this tournament is held has some superb matchplay holes with water in play throughout the 18 and risk and reward decision throughout.

The role call of winners of this event is like a who’s who of golf with Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo among the great names featuring on the trophy.

Those players hoping to win the trophy this season include 6 players who were involved in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles a couple of weeks back including defending champion Graeme McDowell.

Mcdowell won the event last season by beating Thongchai Jaidee at Thracian Cliffs Golf and Beach Resort in Bulgaria. The Thai player is also playing again this season and will be hoping to go one step further this time round.

The format has changed with the players all playing a group match on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and the top two from the four four-man groups going through to Saturday’s quarter finals before the semi finals, 3^rd and 4th play off and final on Sunday.

One thing to look out for is the weather where the forecast is due to be unsettled but warm. Meaning scoring conditions could be very good for the players but a bit wet for the spectators.

Venue: The London Golf Club, Ash, Kent, England Date: Oct 15-19 Course stats: International Course, par 72, 7,026 yards Purse: €2,250,000 Defending Champion: Graeme McDowell (beat Thongchai Jaidee 2&1)

TV Coverage:

Wednesday 15 – Sky Sports 4 from 2pm Thursday 16 – Sky Sports 4 from 11.30am Friday 17 – Sky Sports 4 from 11.30am Saturday 18 – Sky Sports 4 from 11.30am Sunday 19 – Sky Sports 4 from 9.30am

Player Watch:

Henrik Stenson – Was one of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes, if he plays to the best of his ability he will sweep away anyone who takes him on.

Patrick Reed – One of the real positives for the USA at the Ryder Cup, he is bound to be followed closely as the only American in the field and has been playing well recently.

Jamie Donaldson – Will still be on cloud nine after clinching the Ryder Cup for Europe, if he plays to that level again this week will be a tough nut to crack

Key Hole: 18th. At 542 yards with a small hogs-back green and plenty of bunkers this is a hole where finding the putting in surface in two will be very tough. However by doing just that it is sure to reward anyone with the length to do so, especially if they are one down and need to win the hole.