Sergio Garcia has joined Bernhard Langer in declaring himself unavailable for next month's Seve Trophy match between Europe and Britain & Ireland at Druids Glen.
Garcia announced his decision to pull out of the event today after speaking first to captain Seve Ballesteros.
"He was OK, he understood," said the 22-year-old, who like Langer will be playing in the WorldCom Classic in South Carolina as he pursues his goal of trying to top the money lists both in America and Europe.
"That's the way it goes sometimes. Unfortunately, I don't have a clone. If I did I'll be able to play everywhere every week, but unfortunately there's only one Sergio Garcia."
The two teams for the event at the Co Wicklow course, which takes place on April 19th-21st, are decided after this week's Players' Championship.
With no Langer or Garcia, ninth-placed Raphael Jacquelin and 10th-placed Miguel Angel Jimenez would qualify automatically if they maintain their positions and not be competing for the one wildcard Ballesteros has in addition to picking himself.
Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie has already qualified, so he has two wild cards, likely to be Ryder Cup pair Lee Westwood and Phillip Price.