Shingo Katayama
The Championship was a single elimination match play event. The field consisted of the top 64 players available from the Official World Golf Rankings, seeded according to the rankings. Ernie Els (ranked 3) withdrew from the event, electing to stay home because his daughter was to start school in London the next week. Jim Furyk (ranked 5) withdrew because of a wrist injury and Kirk Triplett (ranked 42) also withdrew for personal reasons. They were replaced by Briny Baird (ranked 65), Shingo Katayama (ranked 66) and John Rollins (ranked 67).