Defending champion Paul McGinley of Ireland will return to The Celtic Manor Resort this week along with the two players he beat in an extended play-off, Paul Lawrie and Daren Lee, to contest The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open title.
McGinley effectively secured his place in the European Team for The 34th Ryder Cup Matches last year by winning the third title of his career at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off after heavy rain had reduced the tournament to 36 holes.
Lawrie and Lee attempt to go one better this time around and they tee up in a strong field which includes two of Wales's favourite sons, Phillip Price and Ian Woosnam, and current Ryder Cup players Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood.
Both Clarke and Westwood will be making their debut appearances over the Wentwood Hills course, where Denmark's Steen Tinning claimed his maiden victory on The European Tour International Schedule in the inaugural Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open in 2000.
Clarke, 33, became the first European to win one of the World Golf Championships when he took the WGC - Accenture Match Play in 2000, beating David Duval in the semi-final and Tiger Woods in the final at La Costa Resort and Spa in California.
He won The Compass Group English Open for two consecutive years in 1999 and 2000 and collected the title for a third time earlier this season at the Marriott Forest of Arden.
Clarke admitted that he and ISM stable-mate Westwood were pleased to be making their debut appearances. He said: "We're really looking forward to playing at Celtic Manor and getting an early sighting of the 2010 Ryder Cup course."
Woosnam, European Ryder Cup Vice Captain for next month's Ryder Cup Matches at The De Vere Belfry, tied for third place in the inaugural Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open in 2000 and has showed some excellent form over the past two editions of the tournament on his native soil.
After finishing tied third in the 2001 Open Championship, he became the oldest winner - at 43 - of the 2001 Cisco World Match Play Championship at Wentworth Club, beating Padraig Harrington in an epic final.
Woosnam's long and illustrious professional career stretches back to 1976 and boasts 44 titles worldwide, including the 1991 Masters Tournament. He has also captured 29 European Tour titles, including the 1988 and 1997 Volvo PGA Championship.
Having twice headed the Volvo Order of Merit, in 1987 and 1990, he has also competed in eight Ryder Cups between 1983 and 1997. Woosnam said: "I always enjoy playing in Wales in front of my home crowd and I am really looking forward to a great week at the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open."
Two other Welshman seeking inspiration in front of their passionate supporters are Jamie Donaldson and Mark Pilkington. Last year the pair tied Anders Forsbrand of Sweden for fourth place, a highly creditable finish which enabled Donaldson to become the first player to finish in the top 15 on the Challenge Tour and also secure his card through finishing 96th on the Volvo Order of Merit.
Also competing are rookies Barry Hume of Scotland and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell. Hume will make his debut in the professional ranks and has already represented Scotland in the European Amateur Championship at The Celtic Manor Resort, while McDowell aims to continue the spectacular start to his professional career, having won his first European Tour title, the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, in only his fourth event since turning professional in June.
