Finch is facing tough test against top seed

Clarke’s slide to 70th in the world meant he was one of the eight “outsiders” in the 24-man field drawn alongside the top 16 seeded players.

Defending champion Ian Poulter knows he will have to take on young English compatriot Tom Lewis as well as Australian John Senden.

Lewis led the Open as an amateur in July and then won the Portugal Masters on only his third start as a professional. It was a victory which earned him his place in this week’s event.

England’s other player taking part is Hull’s Richard Finch, whose third-place finish at the China Open last month got him in as top two Branden Grace and Nicolas Colsaerts were already qualified. Finch, the lowest-ranked player at 218th in the world, will meet top seed Martin Kaymer, the other member of the world’s top 10 present.

Draw (seeded positions in brackets based on world rankings) – Group 1: (1) Martin Kaymer, (16) Rafael Cabrera Bello, (24) Richard Finch.

Group 2: (4) Graeme McDowell, (13) Robert Karlsson, (20) Jbe Kruger.

Group 3: (2) Justin Rose, (15) Robert Rock, (19) Darren Clarke.

Group 4: (3) Charl Schwartzel, (14) Nicolas Colsaerts, (18) Retief Goosen.

Group 5: (5) Sergio Garcia, (12) Alvaro Quiros, (22) Tetsuji Hiratsuka.

Group 6: (8) Ian Poulter, (9) John Senden, (23) Tom Lewis.

Group 7: (6) Peter Hanson, (11) Paul Lawrie, (21) Camilo Villegas.

Group 8: (7) Brandt Snedeker, (10) Thomas Bjorn, (17) Branden Grace.

After round-robin matches, the top two in each group progress to last 16.

Lee Westwood has taken on Australian Mike Waite to act as his stand-in caddie while Yorkshireman Billy Foster recovers from a knee injury suffered in a football kick-about two weeks ago.