Ernie Els, winner of last month’s Open Championship, became the latest top 10 player in the world committed to play in the WGC American Express Championship at Mount Juliet in September.
"The World Golf Championships are on a par with the majors," said the South African who earned his third major and first Open at Muirfield in Scotland.
Els is a truly global player who has won 37 titles worldwide, he also teamed up with compatriot Retief Goosen last December to win the WGC EMC2 World Cup in Japan.
"To win one of the World Golf Championships events on my own would be great," said Els who is currently ranked number three in the world.
Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Davis Love III and Vijay Singh, all players currently ranked in the world’s top ten, have confirmed their participation to the Championship in county Kilkenny from September 19th-22nd.
"We are obviously delighted that so many of the top-ranked players in the world have committed to the event," said Championship Director Peter Adams.
"In promoting it over the past year we have been clear that it would mark the greatest ever collection of golfing talent for an event in this country," added Adams.
"We know from the exceptionally strong advance ticket sales that the Irish sporting public is already looking forward to this special golf event."
Tiger Woods is widely expected to play in the event, but as yet, the world number one has not committed.