In its 44-year history, it became part of the British sporting landscape. And yet it seems as if we have seen the last of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth. From the moment that HSBC, its sponsor, decided in 2007 that it no longer wished to be associated with the autumn spectacular, there has been speculation about the future of a tournament started by Mark McCormack, founder of IMG, the management company, to showcase his star players.

An announcement on the future of the event is expected from IMG today or tomorrow, with the likelihood that there will be no competition this year but a revamped tournament, possibly in Spain, from 2009.

HSBC signed a ten-year deal (with an opt-out after five years) in 2003 that provided a £1 million first prize, which at the time was the biggest in world golf. With such rich pickings, HSBC had hoped to attract the world's best players - the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson - but Woods played only once and Mickelson not at all.

The first World Match Play Championship was won by Arnold Palmer in 1964 and its roll of honour is like a who’s who of golf. The most successful was Ernie Els, who lives on the Wentworth estate and who won the trophy seven times.</p>

Speculation suggested that a rich Spanish businessman was said to be considering making an offer to stage the event on the Costa del Sol, in southern Spain, at the same time ofthe year. All is about to be revealed.

Martin Kaymer, from Germany, won the BMW International in Munich yesterday, but only after losing a six-stroke lead and being forced into a play-off by Anders Hansen, from Denmark. Kaymer, 23, struggled to the turn in 38 and then ran up a triple-bogey eight on the long 11th, putting two balls in the lake short of the green. In the play-off, Hansen was in two bunkers while Kaymer hit a massive drive and an even better approach to within seven feet of the flag to become the first German to win the event.

Tommy Fleetwood, from Southport, lost 3 and 2 to Reinier Saxton, of the Netherlands, in the Amateur Championship final at Turnberry on Saturday, but the calmness and touch shown by the 17-year-old on and around the greens will stand him in good stead when he joins the professional ranks.

He has convinced two members of the Park Golf Club, Southport, where he learnt the game and hit a course-record 65 last year, to place a £500 bet on him becoming Open champion before his 27th birthday. They have been given odds of 66-1. After his semi-final win on Friday, Fleetwood had said that the biggest plus of his winning streak was that he got to play Turnberry for free. He got two more rounds on Saturday and could have become the youngest winner of the Amateur, but having been one up after 19 holes, he faded on the closing stretch.

Saxton, 20, birdied the 1st with a putt from 15 feet and went two ahead with a similar putt at the 3rd, but Fleetwood pulled one back at the par-five 7th when he hit a three-wood to within 20 feet and drew level after chipping in at the 9th.

Saxton, 20, moved ahead with his sixth birdie of the day at the 24th hole and increased his lead to three with six to play, leaving Fleetwood with too much to do.

Fleetwood was a gallant loser. “He just played much better than me,” he said. “Tee to green he was much better. I can't be disappointed - I did better than 286 other golfers.”