Stars come out for the opening ceremony

The 16 players competing in the 50th anniversary edition of the Volvo World Match Play Championship were the guests of honour at a lavish opening ceremony on Tuesday night.<br /><br />Defending champion Graeme McDowell was joined by his 15 fellow competitors and assorted guests at Eastwell Manor in Ashford, Kent.<br /><br />The European Tour’s Chief Executive George O’Grady, Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, and Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf, IMG, welcomed the guests with speeches.<br /><br />Kinnings provided a history lesson which harked back to 1964, the year of the inaugural World Match Play Championship, won by Arnold Palmer.<br /><br />O’Grady, who had recently returned from a visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame, brought with him a message from Palmer, a two-time winner of the Volvo World Match Play Championship and seven-time Major Champion.<br /><br />“Arnold told me how proud he is of this tournament, and that he hopes the 50th edition is a great success,” said O’Grady. “Given the first-class venue and the high quality field, I have no doubt it will be.”