Australian golfer Brett Rumford is aiming to do something last achieved by the late Seve Ballesteros this week, but simply staying awake might prove enough of a challenge.

Rumford is seeking a third European tour win in succession at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria after victories in the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea and the China Open.

Ballesteros was the last player to win three straight on the tour in 1986, although it is safe to say his preparation for tournaments in Ireland, Monte Carlo and Spain would have been somewhat different to that of Rumford.

The 35-year-old West Australian explained: “After China I went back home to Perth on Sunday night. I didn’t get too much sleep on the flight of course. Tuesday was my twin girls’ second birthday so we spent it with them celebrating.

“On Wednesday I slept for about five hours and packed the bags once again to fly back to the UK. I got in on Thursday and obviously travelling with twins I didn’t sleep for another 36 hours or so.

“So this week has just been about trying to recover and get the stamina to be able to take on 36 holes a day for the duration of the event hopefully, if I can make it that far.”

As one of the unseeded players in the 24-man field Rumford will definitely have to play 36 holes on Friday, taking on Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Jamie Donaldson in the Gary Player Group.

The top two players in each of the eight three-man groups will advance to the last 16 on Saturday morning, with the winners of those matches playing in the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon.

The semi-finals and final will then be held on Sunday at Thracian Cliffs, a spectacular course – designed by Player – which runs alongside the Black Sea in Kavarna.

Joining Rumford at the first European tour tournament held in Bulgaria is countryman Geoff Ogilvy, whose match play prowess is well-known after claiming two WGC-Match Play championship titles in the US.

“It wasn’t even on my radar,” Ogilvy said after missing the cut at The Players Championship. “It’s a good format for me, probably – hopefully.

“Besides, when am I ever going to go to Bulgaria again?”

Five of last year’s triumphant Ryder Cup team will be competing for the first prize of 800,000 euros ($A1.05 million), with defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts joined by 2011 winner Ian Poulter, Peter Hanson, Francesco Molinari and Graeme McDowell.