Tuesday 16 September 2014 15:53, UK
Six members of Europe's Ryder Cup team have qualified for the Volvo World Match Play Championship at the London Golf Club next month.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell and reigning Race to Dubai champion Henrik Stenson headline a field which also includes Gleneagles team-mates Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher.
Five other players have also secured places - 2013 runner-up Thongchai Jaidee, Volvo China Open champion Alexander Levy, three-time European Tour winner Joost Luiten, dual winner Shane Lowry and Irish Open champion Mikko Ilonen.
The remaining five berths will be filled before the tournament, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, starts on October 15 - the 16-man field will then be split into four groups for the opening three days' play.
McDowell defeated Jaidee 2 & 1 in the final last season, when the tournament was played at the spectacular Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort in Bulgaria.
McDowell said, “I am really excited about defending my title in England in October at the London Golf Club.
"I love the match play format and it certainly seems to bring out some of my best golf so this is a tournament and a title I have been looking forward to defending all year.”
Gallacher, who is also playing in this week's Wales Open at Celtic Manor, added: "My focus right now is on making my debut in the Ryder Cup and contributing all I can to our team’s efforts to retain the Ryder Cup.
"Then, I will be turning my full attention to the London Golf Club which will need a very different mindset as I’ll no doubt be up against a number of my team-mates. It is going to be an exciting couple of months.”
