Inicio News Defending Champion Ian Poulter Returns to Spain

Defending Champion Ian Poulter Returns to Spain

Compartir

Defending Champion, Ian Poulter, has confirmed he will defend his title at the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesín, Spain, from May 17-20, 2012…

The 2012 Championship will once again attract the world’s best golfers with the final 24 man field to be announced in the weeks after the conclusion of the US Masters.

Last year Poulter confirmed his reputation as one of golf’s most gutsy competitors as he capped a succession of comeback wins at the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship with victory, over current world number one, Luke Donald in the final at Finca Cortesín.

The final field of the 47th edition of this historic tournament looks set to match the unprecedented strength of the 2011 Championship. Repeating last year’s successfully amended format, on arrival at Finca Cortesín the players will be divided into eight groups of three players to be play in a round-robin group format on Thursday and Friday to decide which 16 players progress to Saturday’s knock-out stage with the semi-finals and final played on Sunday.

Defending Champion, Ian Poulter, is eager to play in what will be the first event back on European soil after the Masters and the most highly-prized golf event in Spain in 2012. He explained, “I can’t wait to return to Spain to defend my title at the Volvo World Match Play Championship. I love the cut and thrust of match play and find it a refreshing change from the usual stroke play format we play week in and week out on the Tour.  I am also very excited be heading back to stay at the luxurious Finca Cortesín Hotel once again and all the wonderful hospitality and services they have on offer as it is definitely one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed in.”

Poulter continued, “With the fact that it’s a Ryder Cup year, I think it will be even more exciting this year with every match from the group stages to the final a chance for aspiring team members to impress Captain Olazábal in what is our final chance to play match play before Medinah.”

Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, added, “It is wonderful to hear our reigning Champion will be returning to Finca Cortesín to defend his title and to hear his enthusiasm for the Championship. We are coming up to a very exciting time on the golf calendar and it will be fascinating to see what the US Masters and of course the winner of the Volvo China Open will bring in terms of the final field. We are very happy that our changes to the qualification and format of this historic event have enhanced the tournament in many ways and that so many top players are anxious to earn their place in this elite field.”

Guy Kinnings, Global Co-Managing Director of IMG Golf, concluded, “Last year we made some significant changes to the date, format and qualification criteria and we feel they did much to improve this great event, started by IMG’s Founder Mark McCormack in 1964. Many observers thought the 2011 tournament was one of the most exciting in its long history. The player’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and once again we look set to assemble another world class field for this year’s Championship. Working with our partners Volvo, Finca and the European Tour we look forward to another exciting edition of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.”

Vicente Rubio, Managing Director Finca Cortesín said, “We are really looking forward to the return of the Volvo World Match Play Championship and to once again hosting a world class field of players, including our 2011 Champion at Finca Cortesín in May. The players have always been very generous in their kind comments about Finca Cortesín and we aim to make it an even better experience for them this year. All our preparations are going well and the course is in fantastic shape and we are sure that everyone will enjoy the week as much as they did last year and in 2009.” 

Tickets Volvo World Match Play Championship

Tickets to follow and enjoy the game of some of the best players in the world are available on-line:

Español: http://www.golfinspain.com/esp/volvoworldmatchplay/entradas/

English: http://www.golfinspain.com/eng/volvoworldmatchplay/tickets/

2012 Volvo World Match Play Qualification Update

The field will comprise 24 qualifiers determined by the following criteria:

                Qualification                                                                                              Qualified Player/Date Qualifies

                               

i               Defending Champion                                                                                        Ian Poulter (ENG)                              

ii              The Leading Player** from the 2011 Portugal Masters                                    Tom Lewis (ENG)

                               

iii             Top Four Players from the final 2011 R2D Rankings                                        Luke Donald (ENG)

                                                                                                                                            Rory McIlroy (NIR)

                                                                                                                                            Martin Kaymer (GER)

                                                                                                                                            Charl Schwartzel (RSA)

                               

iv             The Leading player** from the 2012 Volvo Golf Champions                             Branden Grace (RSA)

                               

v              The Leading Player **from the 2012 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship    Robert Rock (ENG)

                               

vi             The Leading Player** from the 2012 Commercialbank Qatar Masters             Paul Lawrie (SCO)

                               

vii            Leading European Player on the OWGR post 2012 US Masters                         9 April 2012

                Leading Africa/Middle East player on the OWGR post 2012 US Masters           9 April 2012

Leading North American player on the OWGR post 2012 US Masters                9 April 2012

Leading South American Player on the OWGR post 2012 US Masters               9 April 2012

                Leading Asian player on the OWGR post 2012 US Masters                                9 April 2012

                Leading Australasia on the OWGR post 2012 US Masters                                  9 April 2012

                               

viii           Leading 2 players from OWGR post 2012 US Masters                                        9 April 2012

                               

ix             The winners of the 4 Major Championships following 2012 US Masters                Darren Clarke (ENG)

                                                                                                                                                  Keegan Bradley (USA)

                                                                                                                                                  US Masters 2012

                                                                                                                                                  (Rory McIlroy)

                               

x              The Leading Player (s) from the 2012 R2D Rankings                                             9 April 2012         

                               

xi             The Leading Player ** not otherwise exempt from the 2012 Volvo China Open     22 April 2012       

                               

xii            One sponsor invite from the top 50 of the OWGR following the 2012 US Masters               

                               

**NB To qualify through categories (ii, iv, v, vi and xi), a player must already be a member

 

About Volvo in Golf

In 1988, Volvo changed the face and fortunes of the European Tour and has been a pioneer in golf for many years, successfully using its high-profile events portfolio to position the premium brand and create sustainable business partnerships with clients passionate about the sport. Thanks to effective media exposure, millions around the world have seen the renowned blue brand on the tees, greens and fairways of the world.

Volvo Event Management is responsible for the in-house planning and management of the global golf sponsorship activity shared by Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Group. Volvo Event Management is based in Gothenburg, Sweden and has a representative office in Hong Kong. Volvo Event Management currently has a portfolio of four events under its auspices.

European Tour events:

Volvo Golf Champions – a champions only tournament
Volvo China Open – the national open golf championship of China
Volvo World Match Play Championship – the unofficial world championship in match play

Customer facing events:

Volvo World Golf Challenge – one of the most inclusive global golf series in the world targeted to Volvo’s customers, with its World Final staged in conjunction with the Volvo Golf Champions. Volvo’s customers are then offered the golf experience of a lifetime by ‘Playing with the Pros’ during the professional tournament, a completely unique possibility.

Volvo Event Management has been headed by its President, Per Ericsson since June 2008 and has a core in-house staff supported by specialist consultants.

www.volvoingolf.com

http://www.facebook.com/volvoingolf

http://twitter.com/#!/volvoingolf

About IMG

IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging:  IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing.  More information is available at www.imgworld.com.  Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/IMG_Worldwide and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IMGWorldwide

About Finca Cortesin Golf Resort

Finca Cortesin is, without a doubt, the most important real estate and leisure project to be developed on the Costa del Sol in recent years. This resort is located in one of the most peaceful and fashionable areas of the Mediterranean coast, with spectacular views of the ocean, between Marbella and Sotogrande, only 1.5 kilometres from the beach and minutes from the international airports of Málaga (50 minutes) and Gibraltar (20 minutes). For the creation and development of this exclusive project, the SINGLE HOME Group has collaborated with the most prestigious professionals in each sector, such as the architects Ignacio Sierra, Roger Torras or César Leyva; golf course designer, Cabell B. Robinson; landscape artist Gerald Huggan; or interior designers Duarte Pinto Coelho, Ana and Cristina Calderón, and Marie de Trostenberg.

The resort is divided into 6 main sections:

  • Hotel Cortesin: 22,000m2 built area and 23,000m2  garden area for just 67 suites
  • Finca Cortesín Golf Club: 70 hectares, 18 holes, par 72 and 7,000m long
  • Finca Cortesín Spa: 2,200m2 wellness for mind and body
  • Finca Cortesín Beach Club: exclusive beach club for hotel and resort residents.
  • Shopping Area: Exclusive boutiques, restaurants and professional offices
  • Residential Area: Luxury apartments, houses with hotel services and made-to-measure villas