It seems that among the changes happening to the World Match Play Championship in 2009, one important change is a change in venue. After 44 years in Surrey, Wentworth, the World Match Play Championship is moving to Spain when it lost HSBC, its sponsor of five years.

HSBC's shoes was immediately filled in by Swedish car company Volvo, which has been sponsoring the year-ender Volvo Masters at Valderamma, Spain, since 1988. Volvo will stage the last season-ender in October this year before turning its attention to the World Match Play. The new season-ender will be held in Dubai at the Dubai World Championship.

16 players are expected to play in 2009, led by Ernie Els, the defending champion and seven-time winner of the event. The players, which will come from the highest ranks in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, North and South America, Asia, and Australasia, will be divided into groups of four and each player will have three matches on the first 18 holes. The emerging winner from each group will move on to play in the two 36-hole-semi-finals for the finalist spot.

Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia expressed his delight that the championship is now going to be held in his homeland, saying "It is fantastic that such a prestigious event as the World Match Play has chosen to move to a Spanish venue."