Wentworth no-go for Mickelson

The eagerly-awaited head-to-head between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in Chicago on Friday will not be followed by another at Wentworth next month.

Although Woods is a definite starter at the HSBC World Match Play Championship - his first appearance since he lost in the final to Mark O'Meara in 1998 - Mickelson is attending his sister's wedding in California that weekend.

The world number two, this week's defending champion at the US PGA Championship, plans to leave the celebrations early so that he can link up with the rest of the American Ryder Cup team in Ireland on the Monday.

Just how many other members of Tom Lehman's side - or indeed Ian Woosnam's - are in the 16-man field at Wentworth remains to be seen.

Qualified so far are Woods as world number one, New Zealand's Michael Campbell as defending champion and England's David Howell and Simon Khan from their displays in designated European Tour events.

Two more places are to be filled from the European Order of Merit - Robert Karlsson and Paul Casey are in position to take those at present - and then 10 off the table based on performances in the majors this year.

Mickelson, first in the Masters and joint second in the US Open, leads that, but with him set to decline the invitation the next 10 at the moment are: Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk, Tim Clark, Chris DiMarco, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen and Jose Maria Olazabal.

This week's US PGA - the last major of the season - decides the pecking order for places.