Typically, the 16 man HSBC World Matchplay boasts a roster of players as impressive as most any in golf, but this year that won't be the case. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson all decided to skip the Spet. 15-18 event this year, leaving a not so star-studded field left to duke it out for the purse and newly added (as of last year) world ranking points.
The field is: Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie, Angel Cabrera, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell, Paul McGinley, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer, Tim Clark, Steve Elkington, Kenneth Ferrie, Mark Hensby, Trevor Immelman and Geoff Ogilvy.
Actually, come to think of it, it looks rather like the top 16 on the Euro Tour order of merit.
I also see Sergio, Dimarco, Love and Couples also declined them....guess the $1.78 million winner's check isn't enough to draw them away. It is interesting that no American President's Cuppers are playing the event, but four International Team members are...wonder if they'll be a little jet-lagged flying to Virginia after that week (assuming some of them win at least one matche) or if just playing will help them. I know some of those guys will be at the 84 Lumber though, so I guess it should effect both teams pretty equally.
Typically, the 16 man HSBC World Matchplay boasts a roster of players as impressive as most any in golf, but this year that won't be the case. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson all decided to skip the Spet. 15-18 event this year, leaving a not so star-studded field left to duke it out for the purse and newly added (as of last year) world ranking points.
The field is: Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie, Angel Cabrera, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell, Paul McGinley, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer, Tim Clark, Steve Elkington, Kenneth Ferrie, Mark Hensby, Trevor Immelman and Geoff Ogilvy.
Don't tell lefty but it looks like all the Americans have misplaced their passports again. Imagine that!
it looks like all the Americans have misplaced their passports again
With a last place prize of $100,000 ,it clearly does not matter what you offer Americans, they are scared of travelling. A mickey mouse event in USA is preferable to getting on that big silver bird.
With a last place prize of $100,000 ,it clearly does not matter what you offer Americans, they are scared of travelling. A mickey mouse event in USA is preferable to getting on that big silver bird.
I really don't think this Match Play event is held in the same esteem it once was and it's certainly not a world class event. It's just not that big of a deal on this side of the pond. Granted, the event has some history but when you figure in expenses, the time involved to travel, practice, and possibly play only one round, that $100,000.00 isn't much of a lure these days now is it.
BTW Check your dates lefty......the "Mickey Mouse" event isn't until October 17-23 at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida!
Just because the top four players in the world arent in it, doesnt mean its not a great event.
Well what if the top 4, and #s 6-10 aren't either? The event is a great one...when they can convince someone worth actually taking the time out to watch a silly season event to play.
Just because the top four players in the world arent in it, doesnt mean its not a great event.
Great event? Possibly. :nodsmiley World class event? No way.
Any professional event can be a great event but a Match Play event with only 16 players doesn't qualify as a "must see" event. Apparently it's not much of a "must play" event either. That's not a knock on the event. It's just a realistic view.
Great event? Possibly. :nodsmiley World class event? No way.
Any professional event can be a great event but a Match Play event with only 16 players doesn't qualify as a "must see" event. Apparently it's not much of a "must play" event either. That's not a knock on the event. It's just a realistic view.
I could see it being worthy of watching if Tiger, Vijay, Phil, and the others were in attendance. The possibility of seeing two of those three duking it out in the final in matchplay would be worth a look (after all, our Matchplay event is really only exciting for the possibility of juicy matchups like that as well IMO). However, besides Retief, I see no one else in that field who would be a part of a matchup that might quicken the pulse...and with Retief, I'm not sure that could happen anyway!
August 30th, 2005, 08:31 PM
Don't tell lefty but it looks like all the Americans have misplaced their passports again. 
It's just not that big of a deal on this side of the pond. Granted, the event has some history but when you figure in expenses, the time involved to travel, practice, and possibly play only one round, that $100,000.00 isn't much of a lure these days now is it. 
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