Ballesteros renews old love affair

Nostalgia may be the theme of Thursday's opening round of the Cisco World Match Play Championship but while Seve Ballesteros is involved, passion will not be far away either. Ballesteros resumes his love affair with the event, the West Course at Wentworth and the British galleries after accepting a surprise, late invitation to the 38th playing of the tournament.

For the first time, there will be no American in the 12-man field. David Duval, the Open champion, and David Toms, winner of the USPGA, both thought long and hard about making the journey across the Atlantic before turning down their invitations.

John Daly, the runner-up to Bernhard Langer at the German Masters on Sunday, also declined to play after the organisers, Mark McCormack's International Management Group, would not guarantee a private jet would be available to take Daly home after the event.

As well as Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, third at the Volvo PGA at Wentworth in May, and Ian Woosnam will tee up in the first round. They bring the tally of former winners to six, along with the defending champion Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh. That trio are joined by Darren Clarke as the four top seeds who will not open their campaigns until Friday.

McCormack, whose company also run the world rankings, was quick to point out that the field could boast eight of the top 22 players in the world, a better representation of élite golfers than attended the poorly scheduled Accenture World Matchplay in Melbourne last January.

Despite a proud heritage, McCormack's tournament does not have official status and has struggled for some years to gather 12 of the best players in the world. Calling up a golfer ranked a lowly 1,187th in the world is tantamount to an admission of defeat, but there is no doubt that the 44-year-old Ballesteros still holds a special place in the game. "When you think of matchplay golf, mano a mano, you think of Seve," McCormack said.

Now 44 and a shadow of his former greatness, Ballesteros has made only two halfway cuts this season and his earnings to date of £7,500 will be dwarfed by the £50,000 guarantee for first-round losers.

Ballesteros faces the Canadian newcomer, Mike Weir, the world No 18. This will be his 20th appearance in the event, equalling Gary Player's record 10 years after matching Player's record fifth victory. His 28 wins are exactly double his number of defeats in the 36-hole matches, while between 1981 and '85 he won 15 out of 16 matches in taking the title four times.

"Matchplay has always been my favourite," Ballesteros said. "I was a little surprised to be invited but I had no hesitation in accepting. I am not afraid of competing against anyone. If I have a good day, I can beat anyone.

"This is where I fell in love with the British galleries. They have been a great support over the years. I hope they come out for me again this week."

TEE-OFF TIMES ( Cisco World Match Play Championship first round at Wentworth on Thursday): (GB and Irl unless stated): 0900 and 1300 T Bjorn (Den) v A Scott (Aus). Winner to play L Westwood. 0915 and 1315 R Goosen (SA) v I Woosnam. Winner to play C Montgomerie. 0930 and 1330 P Harrington v N Faldo. Winner to play D Clarke. 0945 and 1345 M Weir (Can) v S Ballesteros (Sp). Winner to play V Singh (Fiji).