Volvo World Match Play Championship

The traditional golf tournament, named after the current sponsor since 2009, the Volvo World Match Play Championship , was held on an invitation basis in match play format. Depending on the sponsor, it changed its name several times. Previously it was called the HSBC World Match Play Championship .

Since 2011, the tournament has been held regularly at a different location in Europe. 2014 was the last venue at the London Golf Club in Kent , England . The prize money was € 2,250,000, of which the winner received € 650,000.

Invitation criteria

16 players were invited according to defined qualification criteria. Among them were the defending champion, the world number one and the ten other places available in the HSBC Major Ranking , which was based on the golf world ranking list . In addition there were the two best placed in the European money ranking and the HSBC European ranking .

mode

The first round (round of 16) was announced according to the seeding list, whereby the defending champion was always seeded as number 1, and then the placement in the world rankings was decisive. The 1st played against the 16th, the 2nd against the 15th, and so on.

The individual matches were each played on one day over 36 holes, namely one round of golf (18 holes) in the morning and one in the afternoon. In the event of a tie, extra holes were played until a winner was determined. The tournament lasted four days (Thursday round of 16, Friday quarter-finals, etc.), so that on the final Sunday two players played the final and the defeated semi-finalists played third in the flight before. In 2006 and 2007 this so-called consolation game was dropped .

New mode from 2009

The 16 participants were divided into four groups, each playing against each other over the entire 18 holes. For the win you received two points, a draw earned each player one point. In addition, the difference between holes won and lost was included in the scoring in order to determine the placements in the event of a tie. The group winners played in the semifinals, which went over 36 holes and was played according to the classic match play criteria. The final was also a match game over 36 holes, while the semi-final losers played one over 18 holes for third place.

New mode from 2011

Since 2011, 24 golfers have been playing in eight groups of three men each - each against each other (a draw scores 1 point, a win scores 2 points) - the two best of each group make it to the round of 16. If the number of points is equal, a separate jump-off will be held. The remaining 16 players then continue to play in the KO system, with each pairing, including the final, running over 18 holes (plus any extra holes in the event of a tie). Another change is the elimination of the game for third place.

Amendments 2014

16 golfers played in four groups of four men each, the first two of the group made it to the quarter-finals, with the first group playing against the second group. The game for third place was played again.

meaning

Held for the first time in 1964, for decades this competition was practically a world championship in match play . You saw the absolute best in the world at the start, and the list of winners read like a who's who in professional golf. Since the introduction of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship , which is part of the exclusive World Golf Championships tournament series and has been held since 1999, more and more top golfers from the USA and the PGA TOUR have decided not to participate in the HSBC World Match Play Championship. This competitive event includes a field of 64 players who are made up of the current world rankings and which are also better timed.

The value of the HSBC World Match Play Championship for the world rankings was very high, since the winner received almost as many points as for a major victory.

Winners list

year	winner	nationality
Volvo World Match Play Championship
2014	Mikko Ilonen	Finland
2013	Graeme McDowell	Northern Ireland
2012	Nicolas Colsaerts	Belgium
2011	Ian Poulter	England
2010	no tournament
2009	Ross Fisher	England
2008	no tournament
HSBC World Match Play Championship
2007	Ernie Els	South Africa
2006	Paul Casey	England
2005	Michael Campbell	New Zealand
2004	Ernie Els	South Africa
2003	Ernie Els	South Africa
Cisco World Match Play Championship
2002	Ernie Els	South Africa
2001	Ian Woosnam	Wales
2000	Lee Westwood	England
1999	Colin Montgomerie	Scotland
1998	Mark O'Meara	United States
Toyota World Match Play Championship
1997	Vijay Singh	Fiji
1996	Ernie Els	South Africa
1995	Ernie Els	South Africa
1994	Ernie Els	South Africa
1993	Corey Pavin	United States
1992	Nick Faldo	England
1991	Seve Ballesteros	Spain
Suntory World Match Play Championship
1990	Ian Woosnam	Wales
1989	Nick Faldo	England

year	winner	nationality
1988	Sandy Lyle	Scotland
1987	Ian Woosnam	Wales
1986	Greg Norman	Australia
1985	Seve Ballesteros	Spain
1984	Seve Ballesteros	Spain
1983	Greg Norman	Australia
1982	Seve Ballesteros	Spain
1981	Seve Ballesteros	Spain
1980	Greg Norman	Australia
1979	Bill Rogers	United States
Colgate World Match Play Championship
1978	Isao Aoki	Japan
1977	Graham Marsh	Australia
Piccadilly World Match Play Championship
1976	David Graham	Australia
1975	Hale Irwin	United States
1974	Hale Irwin	United States
1973	Gary Player	South Africa
1972	Tom Weiskopf	United States
1971	Gary Player	South Africa
1970	Jack Nicklaus	United States
1969	Bob Charles	New Zealand
1968	Gary Player	South Africa
1967	Arnold Palmer	United States
1966	Gary Player	South Africa
1965	Gary Player	South Africa
1964	Arnold Palmer	United States

Web links

(all english)

• Official website
• HSBC Champions of Golf Worldwide - detailed description of the qualification criteria and the current ranking

Individual evidence

1. ↑ European Tour - Volvo World Match Play Championship 2011
2. ↑ http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014082/news/index.html
3. ↑ highest historical final victory with 10 out of 8 against Shaun Micheel ( United States )    (means a lead of 10 holes with 8 holes remaining)