European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance will replace Canadian Mike Weir in the World Match Play Championship which starts at Wentworth tomorrow.

Weir, joint 12th in the US PGA Tour's Michelob Championship on Sunday, was due to fly to Britain on Monday night but decided to remain with his family because of the air strikes in Afghanistan.

Scotland's Torrance (48), made the last of his three appearances in the event six years ago when he was a first-round loser.

He is drawn to play Seve Ballesteros in the first round. The former Ryder Cup captain and five-time major winner was himself a late replacement for American John Daly, who was concerned about his return flight to the US after playing in Germany last weekend.

"I think it has worked out well for the event that Seve and I are playing each other," Torrance said yesterday.

"I think Seve will be happy as well. However he has been doing, you are still playing Seve Ballesteros. He still has that name and intimidation."

Ballesteros has missed 15 cuts from the 17 European Tour events he has played this year.

The event has been badly hit by American withdrawals, with Tiger Woods, David Duval, Phil Mickelson and Daly declining to fly. As a result, twice-winners Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam have also been included in the field.

Meanwhile, the PGA tour has announced that the Presidents Cup, originally been scheduled November next year, will now be played from November 18th-23rd, 2003.

The fifth edition of the biennial matchplay competition, which pits a team from the US against a 12-man team of international players from nations outside Europe, will be held in South Africa.