Irish duo facing tough draw in World Match Play

GRAEME McDOWELL and Rory McIlroy, Ireland’s two representatives in an impressive 24-man field, have been handed difficult draws in the pool stages of the €3.4m Volvo World Match Play which starts at Finca Cortesin, Spain, on Thursday.

McDowell is in the Ian Woosnam group alongside British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Colombian Jhonattan Vegas, who has made a big impression with a series of strong finishes in the early months of the US PGA Tour. McDowell faces Oosthuizen on Thursday before taking on Vegas 24 hours later.

McIlroy has been drawn in the Gustaf Larson group with two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen and Nicolas Colsaerts, the Belgian who qualified through his recent victory in the Volvo China Open. He meets Goosen on Thursday and Colsaerts on Friday.