World Matchplay returns to European Tour in 2011

The Volvo World Matchplay Championship will return to the European Tour schedule in 2011 after a year's absence.

The European Tour announced Monday that the tournament will be played at Finca Cortesin in Spain on May 19-22 with the field size increased from 16 to 24. The total prize fund will increase to $4.1 million from $3.8 million, with the winner picking up a check for more than $957,000.

The Matchplay was held at Wentworth from 1964 to 2007, but switched, after a year's break, to Spain in 2009 when Volvo took on the sponsorship.

England's Ross Fisher beat American Anthony Kim in last year's final, but the tournament was again suspended in 2010 because of a calendar clash.