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Northern Irish duo in Volvo matchplay

Golf: Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and British Open champion Darren Clarke are expected to tee it up in the 24-man field…

Mon May 07 2012 - 01:00

Golf:Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and British Open champion Darren Clarke are expected to tee it up in the 24-man field for the Volvo World Matchplay Championship at the Finca Cortesin golf course in Andalucia, Spain next week.

The worlds top three golfers, number one Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood along with a host of Americans have decided not to participate which means that Germanys Martin Kaymer (eight) is the highest ranked golfer taking part. The draw for the tournament will not be done until after this weeks Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Englands Richard Finch, ranked 215th in the world and who has not earned a penny from six of his last seven tournaments, is in the field. The 34 year old from Hull qualified through his third-place finish at the China Open last month; all because winner Branden Grace and runner-up Nicolas Colsaerts had already earned their places at the event.

Paul Casey, winner in 2006, has received the one sponsors invitation and joins a field that also includes compatriots Justin Rose, Robert Rock, Tom Lewis and defending champion Ian Poulter, Clarke, McDowell, Scot Paul Lawrie and Spanish star Sergio Garcia.

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Casey, admitted: I am very grateful to Volvo for giving me this invite as I would have hated to miss out on what is one of my favourite events of the year. Having been injured at the start of the season (he dislocated a shoulder snowboarding on Christmas Eve) I am beginning to get a little more tournament tough and I think the match play format will suit me very well.

I cant wait to see who I will have in my group. Of course, being a Ryder Cup year, this great championship is even more significant and we will all be out to impress our captain (Jose Maria Olazabal) in every match.

Full line-up (in ranking order):Martin Kaymer (Ger), Justin Rose (Eng), Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Graeme McDowell (N Irl), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Brandt Snedeker (US), Peter Hanson (Swe), Ian Poulter (Eng), John Senden (Aus), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Alvaro Quiros (Spa), Paul Lawrie (Sco), Paul Casey (Eng), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel), Robert Rock (Eng), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa), Retief Goosen (Rsa), Branden Grace (Rsa), Darren Clarke (N Irl), Jbe Kruger (Rsa), Camilo Villegas (Col), Tetsuki Hiratsuka (Jpn), Tom Lewis (Eng), Richard Finch (Eng).