Luke Donald has another opportunity to claim the world number one slot from Lee Westwood at the World Match Play Championship in Marbella, which started earlier on today.
Westwood leads the field for the new format, with 24 players in eight groups of three and the top two progressing to the knock-out phase which will take place across the weekend.
Should Donald win, he will become the first player to win two match play titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
“I enjoy the challenge of one against one over 18 holes,” he said.
Donald beat Martin Kaymer in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in February and has since been in decent form.
The Englishman has made 12 top-10 finishes in his previous 13 tournaments, surging up the world rankings to second behind Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood, who goes into the tournament at the Finca Cortesin course on the back of successive titles in Indonesia and Korea.
The match play event is returning to the European Tour after a 12-month absence.
“I think my records in the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, the Match Play this year speak for themselves,” said Donald.
Westwood is in fine form himself, after winning the recent Ballantine’s Championship.
“We play a lot of individual stroke play and match play is a different feel and mindset. It’s certainly nice to break it up.”
World number one Westwood will be up against Dane Anders Hansen and Australian Aaron Baddeley, while Donald faces holder Ross Fisher and Ryan Moore.
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