The World Match Play Championship was a limited field event, originally contested by just eight players before being expanded to sixteen in 1977, and to 24 in 2011.

In 2004 it became an official tournament on the European Tour for the first time, having previously been a designated "approved special event".

Greatly increased sponsorship was secured from the largest British based bank, HSBC, and the winner's prize was increased to £1 million, which was then easily the largest in world golf (although the Nedbank Golf Challenge had had a $2 million first prize from 2000 to 2002).

The field was increased to 16 players, all of whom needed to play eight rounds of golf to win, to eliminate the advantage previously given to seeds.

In 2005, no Americans took part at all, and with stalwart Ernie Els injured and Vijay Singh and Sergio García also absent, the field was one of the weakest seen at the event, with just one player from the world top ten.

But in January 2007 HSBC activated a break clause in its ten-year contract and withdrew from sponsorship after the 2007 event.

The format switched to an opening round robin, with 16 players divided into four groups and the winners advancing to the 36-hole semi-finals.

Prior to the tournament Volvo announced they were withdrawing their support as they reduced their sponsorship commitments on the European Tour.