Volvo World Match Play Championship set to spring into action

6/7/2010

The Volvo World Match Play Championship is moving from its traditional autumn date to a new springtime slot starting in May 2011 following a long-term agreement between the promoters and the European Tour, assuring professional golf’s most enduring match play event of guaranteed dates, paving the way for a possible 50^th ‘golden’ anniversary in 2015.

The 46^th Volvo World Match Play Championship will take place from 19^th May to 22^nd May, 2011 at the magnificent Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf and Spa in Andalucía, Spain, organizers electing for a spring time and a change from its traditional autumn slot.

 Explains Per Ericsson, President, Volvo Event Management (Golf), “Innovation has always been the watchword at Volvo and having made bold changes to Mark H McCormack’s fantastic vision last year - new country, new venue, new format - we have continued the process of renewal with this significant change to a spring date.”

 This strategic date change positions the Volvo World Match Play Championship in the vanguard of the early-season showpiece tournaments as the season unfolds, the appetite whetted by the first ‘Major’ of the season, the US Masters, the global golf year stretching out ahead.

 Says Tournament Director José Maria Zamora, “I think this is an inspired move for the Volvo World Match Play Championship,” explaining, “The Finca Cortesín golf course will be fresh and in perfect condition and you can say the same for the players who will be keen to get significant Race to Dubai Ranking and Official World Golf Ranking points on the board early on in the season.”

 Ignacio Soto, Course Superintendent at Finca Cortesín agrees, saying, “Last year, we had a very, very dry summer and had to work incredibly hard to ensure the course was in great shape for the Volvo World Match Play Championship, but in May, in my opinion, this golf course is in its best condition of the year.”

 www.europeantour.com

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