McIlroy is currently third in the Race to Dubai standings

Rory McIlroy looks certain to clinch a place in the 16-man field for the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain in four weeks' time.

The field for the event at the Finca Cortesin course near Marbella will be announced after this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

McIlroy's current position in the European Order of Merit looks certain to guarantee himself a spot in Spain.

The 20-year-old Northern Irish is third in the Race to Dubai standings.

Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are also set to be added to the 16-man field on the basis of their world rankings.

With Tiger Woods topping a list of players who have already turned down invitations to the event the quartet look to have sealed places in the event from the latest rankings announced on Monday.

Already playing at Finca Cortesin - the tournament has now moved from Wentworth, its home from 1964 to 2007 - are Paul Casey, Retief Goosen, Robert Allenby, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas, Jeev Milkha Singh and Scott Strange.

Five more will come off the European money list after this week's Dunhill Links event.

In position to qualify there at present are McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Soren Kjeldsen and Oliver Wilson.

Casey and Kaymer are both currently out injured, but hope to recover in time for the Match Play, where the first prize is over £500,000.

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