Woods opts out of World Match Play

Tiger Woods will miss the revamped 2.3 million pound ($3.67 million) World Match Play Championship at Wentworth because it clashes with his annual foundation clinic which he holds for talented young players.

The Tiger Woods Foundation Clinic is set for October 18 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

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The World Match Play Championship, which was to feature all 12 of the world's top players, is held from October 16-19 and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

"I have my foundation clinic that Saturday. That's the biggest clinic we have all year," Woods, who earlier this year won the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, told reporters.

"We fly in kids from all over the country for that one."

Ernie Els is the defending champion of the World Match Play Championship, which recently signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with HSBC, the world's second largest bank.

Expected to join Els in a bid for the one million pound ($1.59 million) first prize are U.S. Masters champion Mike Weir and U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk. Last year's first prize was 250,000 pounds ($398,600).