Britain’s world number four Paul Casey will make his first appearance since July at the World Match Play Championship in Spain on Thursday.
PAUL CASEY Picture © Getty ImagesCasey returns after a rib injury which has ruled him out since the British Open and caused him to slip from first to fourth in the Race to Dubai money list.
“This is the longest I’ve been out of action and I am really eager to get back out on the course,” Casey, the 2006 World Match Play champion, told the European Tour website.
“I’ve listened to, and followed, all the medical advice and my first goal is to try to win The Race to Dubai, starting with the Volvo World Match Play.”
Following a break in 2008, the tournament debuts at the Costa del Sol’s Finca Cortesin Golf Club having previously been held at Wentworth, England since its inception in 1964.
The Race to Dubai list’s top four—leader Lee Westwood of Britain, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Casey—have been kept apart in the 16-man line-up.
Masters champion Angela Cabrera of Argentina, Sweden’s world number seven Henrik Stenson and Colombian Camilo Villegas are also in the field.
The new format sees four groups of four players compete in a round robin over the first two days with the leading player from each group qualifying for the semi-final knock out stage.
Draw (prefix denotes seeding, British unless stated):
Group A: 1-Paul Casey, 8-Retief Goosen (South Africa), 9-Anthony Kim (U.S.), 16-Scott Strange (Australia).
Group B: 4-Sergio Garcia (Spain), 5-Martin Kaymer (Germany), 12-Robert Allenby (Australia), 13-Oliver Wilson.
Group C: 3-Henrik Stenson (Sweden), 6-Rory McIlroy, 11-Angel Cabrera (Argentina), 14-Simon Dyson.
Group D: 2-Lee Westwood, 7-Camilo Villegas (Colombia), 10-Ross Fisher, 15-Jeev Milkha Singh (India).
