Langer absent from Valderrama

Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie were left with some unfinished business when their play-off was halted by fading light in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama last year and they agreed to share the title.

But it won’t be finished this week – Langer is nowhere to be seen.

Instead of being a gathering of the great and the good on the European tour this season the event is now merely for the good. Nobody outside the top 60 money-winners is eligible and Europe’s new Ryder Cup captain is down in 90th spot.

That represents Langer’s lowest Order of Merit position since he turned professional way back in 1976. Indeed, in the last 23 years he has only twice ended up outside the top 20.

Langer’s failure to record a single top 10 finish during the season means no return to the Costa del Sol course where he has not only twice lifted the trophy - albeit jointly 11 months ago – but also broke the Valderrama record with a memorable 62 nine years ago and helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in 1997.

Montgomerie is back, but he returns “only” in 28th place on the money list and the seven-time European No 1 has not finished that low since 1988, his rookie season.

With the first prize increased to over £400,000, however, the 40-year-old Scot could leap back into the top eight by winning again – providing he does not share it this time.

And Montgomerie does have some confidence coming into the event, achieving his first victory of the season out in the Far East at the Macau Open 10 days ago.

No fewer than 22 European tour winners this season will be trying to deny him, but unlike most seasons the Order of Merit title is not at stake. Ernie Els has already clinched it and because of that has not felt the need to make the trip.

Fellow South African Retief Goosen, No 1 the previous two seasons, and Australian Peter Lonard are not present either, reducing the field to a mere 57.

Incentive for many of the players are a top 20 finish on the Order of Merit to earn a place in next year’s Open and a top 15 finish for the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Montgomerie joins Clarke, Nick Faldo, Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Mark McNulty and Lee Westwood as past champions taking part.

Previously exemptions into the tournament were given to previous winners of the Volvo PGA championship, the Order of Merit or the four majors.

But this created the situation last November where Costantino Rocca and Tony Johnstone, respectively 155th and 159th on the money list, could have sent Paul Eales and Gary Emerson back to the qualifying school if they had earned enough money.

The new system falls in line with that operated on the US Tour, although only the leading 30 money-winners there each year compete in the Tour Championship.

Although Seve Ballesteros said last week that he disagreed with the change Mel Pyatt, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Event Management, said: “I am personally delighted with the changes, which place an even greater focus on the quality of the field, something that has always been our aim.”

Tour executive director Ken Schofield added: “The new changes re-affirm the weight of importance placed on finishing in the top 60.”

Montgomerie has long maintained that only the top money-winners each season should play.