Nicolas Colsaerts' second place finish at the Volvo China Open has secured him a spot in the World Match Play Championship field.
Only the winner of the event was promised a spot in the 24-man field for the Volvo World Match Play Championship, set to take place in Spain next month, but because champion Branden Grace was already exempt through his victory at the Volvo Champions on home soil in January, next-in-line Colsaerts now qualifies instead.
Colsaerts has happy memories of Finca Cortesin. He reached the semi-finals last year, beating Rory McIlroy, Retief Goosen, Jhonattan Vegas and Graeme McDowell before going down to eventual winner Ian Poulter at the first extra hole.
World top two McIlroy and Luke Donald, who lost the final to Poulter 2&1, have turned down the tournament this time and the full line-up has yet to be announced.
Among those already entered, though, are Poulter, Open champion Darren Clarke, Justin Rose, Paul Lawrie, Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson, Retief Goosen and Alvaro Quiros.
golf365.com