Garcia to miss £1m prize

Sergio Garcia, one of the stars of Europe's Ryder Cup success, has joined Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, two flops of the American side, in deciding not to play in next month's HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

Golf 's richest first prize, £1million, is on offer in the 16-man event, but Garcia has chosen instead to play in the Mallorca Classic, where the winner's cheque is only £113,000.

The World Match Play is the event in which Garcia was involved in controversy a few years ago after taking off one of his shoes, kicking it and nearly hitting the match referee when he slipped on a tee playing Retief Goosen.

Lee Westwood, Scott Drummond and Miguel Angel Jimenez are the three Europeans already confirmed in this year's Wentworth line-up. Americans Chris DiMarco, Justin Leonard, Davis Love and Chris Riley have yet to say whether they are making the trip.

The field is headed by defending champion Ernie Els and three of this season's major winners - Vijay Singh, Todd Hamilton and Goosen.

South Korean KJ Choi, Canada's Mike Weir and American Jeff Maggert are the others who have confirmed their participation.