Golf:Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke will tee it up in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin near Marbella tournament which starts on Thursday.

In a change from last year, only the best-ranked 16 players in the 24-strong field have been seeded for the group stage, while the remaining eight players will go into a draw to join them tomorrow. The format sees eight groups of three, with the leading two players in each after the round-robin games going through to the knockout phase.

McDowell is seeded four and he plays Robert Karlsson (13) on Thursday. They will learn the third member of their group tomorrow. Clarke is not among the top 16. Ian Poulter defends the title he won last year and faces Australian John Senden in the first match. Sergio Garcia has been drawn against fellow Spaniard Alvaro Quiros while Justin Rose opposes compatriot Robert Rock.

Thursday tee-off times

11.05:Ian Poulter (Eng) v John Senden (Aus)

11.20:Brandt Snedeker (US) v Thomas Bjorn (Den)

11.35:Peter Hanson (Swe) v Paul Lawrie (Sco)

11.50:Sergio Garcia (Spa) v Alvaro Quiros (Spa)

12.05:Graeme McDowell (N Irl) v Robert Karlsson (Swe)

12.20:Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) v Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)

12.35:Justin Rose (Eng) v Robert Rock (Eng)

12.50:Martin Kaymer (Ger) v Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa)