Paul McGinley will have the honour of striking the opening shot at the ISPS Handa Wales Open as the race for Ryder Cup points starts in earnest.
Paul McGinley: European captain
McGinley, the European Ryder Cup captain, will from the front tee alongside Espen Kofstad - the top player on the Challenge Tour last year - and 2012 Qualifying School winner John Parry when the Wales Open tees off from at the Celtic Manor Resort.
The Welsh course was the scene of the European team's victory in 2010 and provides the perfect setting for players eager to claim the nine automatic spots on McGinley's team for next year's event.
"I am absolutely thrilled to be striking the first shot in the race for The 2014 Ryder Cup," said McGinley.
"While I have obviously ruled myself out of the running to battle for a place in the team, as the Captain and the leader I am extremely proud to lead the lines for my prospective team members.
"There is going to be fierce competition for those nine spots and I'm sure there are many players at The Celtic Manor Resort this week with their eyes focussed firmly on a place in my team.
"It also gives me great pleasure to hit the first shot of the tournament, as this is always been a special event for me, especially since my victory here at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2001."
Last year's winner Thongchai Jaidee starts his title defence alongside Spain's Rafa Cabrero-Bello and 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, while Miguel Angel Jiménez, Gonzalo
Fernandez-Castaño and Thorbjørn Olesen start proceedings on the 11th tee.
Tommy Fleetwood, the winner of last week's Johnnie Walker Championship is in the group immediately thereafter alongside Francesco Molinari and Mikko Ilonen.
Course record holder Rhys Davies, who carded a 62 en route to a second place finish in 2010, is joined by Raphaël Jacquelin and Peter Uihlein.
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