THE strongest World Matchplay championship for many years is certain to have a European in the quarter finals. There are only two of them in the field, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam, and the draw has brought them together in the first round, to be played at Wentworth on Thursday.

Their match will dominate the first day proceedings. With three of the four major championship winners in Steve Jones (US Open), Tom Lehman (British Open) and Mark Brooks (US PGA) competing, plus the leading money winners from both America (Phil Mickelson) and Europe (Montgomerie), and a defending champion of the quality of Ernie Els, this year's championship should be considerably more interesting than many of the most recent editions.

. World number one Greg Norman has agreed to play in his native Australia for free in a bid to avoid another wave of criticism over appearance money. Norman, stung by controversy over appearance money on previous visits home, said he would forego his reported $250,000 fee to play in three Australian Opens, starting in 1997.