Thomas Levet, who made a victorious Ryder Cup debut at Oakland Hills Country Club earlier this month, and his Ryder Cup team-mate Jiménez qualified through the Volvo Order of Merit. Levet gambled on securing his spot when he pulled out of The Heritage, to take a week off after the exhausting celebrations following Europe’s record win in Detroit. Had Levet’s Ryder Cup team-mate, Padraig Harrington, finished in the top eight at The Heritage, he would have edged Levet out of the 16-man HSBC World Match Play field but the Frenchman held on to his place.

Thomas Levet said: “I am so happy to secure my place in the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship field. Last week’s Ryder Cup really reminded me how much I enjoy match play and I think it is great for the fans too. It is going to be tough with Ernie and Vijay in the field but I am looking forward to a great week.”

Drummond and Cabrera qualified through HSBC European Tournament Rankings which ended after The Heritage.

Sixteen of the best golfers in the world will compete for the Mark McCormack Trophy and the £1 million first prize, the largest in world golf. Now in its 41st year, the HSBC World Match Play Championship is officially sanctioned by The European Tour with the results counting for the Volvo Order of Merit and Official World Ranking points. All 16 players will compete in the opening round of 36 hole matches on Thursday, October 14, with the final being played on Sunday, October 17.

Other players confirmed include defending champion Ernie Els, US PGA Champion and newly crowned World Number One Vijay Singh, along with K.J. Choi, Todd Hamilton, Retief Goosen, Lee Westwood, Jeff Maggert and Mike Weir.

Courtesy of http://www.europeantour.com