Els leads strong field

Ernie Els heads the list of entrants for next month's World Match Play Championship at Wentworth. The Open champion joins Ian Woosnam, Sergio Garcia, Nick Faldo and Justin Rose in a strong field.

Woosnam, who last year became the event's oldest champion, will face stern opposition in his attempt to retain the title, including the man he beat in last year's final, Padraig Harrington.

Els, who triumphed in the Open at Muirfield in July, won an unprecedented hat-trick of titles between 1994 and 1996. Colin Montgomerie, Els's fellow South African Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, of Fiji, are also included in the 12-man line-up.

Sam Snead's record of 81 official PGA Tour victories has increased by one. The Tour has finally decided to count Open championships won before 1995.