Ian Poulter 2010 Winner
9:25 a.m.
3. IAN POULTER vs. 14. STEWART CINK Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Poulter is 18-7; Cink is 21-11
The first match of the day might very well be the best one. Poulter's the defending champ, but Cink has been to the finals, the semifinals and the quarterfinals the past three years.
9:35 a.m.
6. ALVARO QUIROS vs. 11. Y.E. YANG Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Quiros is 0-2; Yang is 1-2
Quiros, the big-hitting Spaniard, comes off a win at the Dubai Desert Classic but his game has yet to translate into Match Play success here. Yang reached the second round this year, but he comes off a missed cut at Riviera.
9:45 a.m
3. ERNIE ELS vs. 14. JEFF OVERTON Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Els is 10-11; Overton is 0-0
Els has enjoyed match play victories on the European Tour but he's never reached the finals in this event; he's won just four of his last 10 Accenture matches. Overton is making his Match Play debut, but he showed at the Ryder Cup that he's capable of fireworks in this format.
9:55 a.m.
6. J.B. HOLMES vs. 11. CAMILO VILLEGAS Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Holmes is 0-1; Villegas is 7-3
Villegas, who reached the semifinals last year, may have gotten a big break when Tim Clark pulled out Tuesday because of injury, with Holmes slotting in as the replacement. Because the brackets had already been released, Holmes moves into the No. 6 seed spot. His only previous appearance in this event came in 2008 when he lost to Tiger Woods in the first round. Villegas took down two big names (Dustin Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy) early last year.
10:05 a.m.
3. LUKE DONALD vs. 14. CHARLEY HOFFMAN Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Donald is 10-6; Hoffman is 0-0
Donald has never lost a first-round match in his six starts here, but he's never advanced past the third round either. His losses the last five years have been extremely close, so he should go in with plenty of hunger. Hoffman is making his Match Play debut and he's not exactly in form, having missed the cut in three of his first six starts.
10:15 a.m.
6. EDOARDO MOLINARI vs. 11. MARTIN LAIRD Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Molinari is 0-1; Laird is 0-0
Molinari lost a tough match to Stewart Cink in his Match Play debut last year, but he obviously thrives in this format, having won the 2005 U.S. Amateur. Laird has no prior starts in this event but he's been competitive on TOUR this year; the last time he was in Arizona, he tied for third at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
10:25 a.m.
3. JIM FURYK vs. 14. RYAN PALMER Player
Accenture Match Play records: Furyk is 10-10; Palmer is 0-0
You'd like to think the FedExCup champion will make some noise this week, but Furyk has struggled of late, with just one of his last 11 rounds on TOUR in the 60s. Palmer is a Match Play rookie, but he can crank out the birdies; in 2008, he led the TOUR in birdie average. Look out for a surprise outcome.
10:35 a.m.
6. MIGUEL A. JIMENEZ vs. 11. YUTA IKEDA Player
Accenture Match Play records: Jimenez is 6-9; Ikeda is 0-1
Jimenez is a world-class player but he's just 3-4 in first-round matches the last seven years, with two of those wins coming against Rory Sabbatini. Ikeda lost to Nick Watney last year in his Match Play debut but don't underestimate the 25-year-old's game. Ikeda could be sneaky-tough this week.
10:45 a.m.
2. GRAEME McDOWELL vs. 15. HEATH SLOCUM Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: McDowell is 1-4; Slocum is 0-0
Will McDowell be the McDowell who's made no impact in four previous starts in this event, or will he be the McDowell who clinched the Ryder Cup for the Europeans last year? Everybody expects the latter. Considering that Slocum is making his first appearance here and has missed the cut in his last three TOUR starts this year, few will give him a chance to upset the U.S. Open champ.
10:55 a.m.
7. ROBERT ALLENBY vs. 10. ROSS FISHER Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Allenby is 9-10; Fisher is 3-2/
Two years ago, Fisher beat Allenby 1-up in the first round en route to making a semifinal run. After reaching the quarterfinals in 2005, Allenby has won just two of seven matches. Fisher will look to bounce back after a first-round exit a year ago.
11:05 a.m.
2. PAUL CASEY vs. 15. RICHARD GREEN Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Casey is 15-8; Green is 0-4
Casey beat Stephen Ames 5 and 4 in last year's first round on the way to his second consecutive finals appearance. But before that, Casey had to battle just to get out of the first round. Green was blown out in the first round last year but played much tougher in his three appearances before that. What's it all mean? Probably nothing. Casey will likely roll.
11:15 a.m.
7. KYUNG-TAE KIM vs. 10. JASON DAY Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Kim is 0-0; Day is 0-0
A couple of Match Play rookies will probably appreciate not having to start out against a tested veteran. Kim won three times on the Japan Tour last year while Day broke through with his first TOUR win in Dallas. Kim may be a little rusty, having not played this year.
11:25 a.m.
2. STEVE STRICKER vs. 15. MATTEO MANASSERO Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Stricker is 10-7; Manassero is 0-0
Stricker won this event 10 years ago, but he's had a difficult time making an impact since then. He's lost in the first round in three of his last five starts. Manassero is just 17 years old but he's pretty fearless, so don't expect him to be intimidated in these surroundings.
14 11:35 a.m.
7. CHARL SCHWARTZEL vs. 10. RYO ISHIKAWA Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Schwartzel is 3-2; Ishikawa is 2-1
Schwartzel has beaten Sergio Garcia and Hunter Mahan in the first round the last two years, and both were nip-and-tuck affairs. Ishikawa reached the third round last year in his Match Play debut, and no one would be surprised if the 19-year-old gets farther this year. Should be entertaining.
15 11:45 a.m.
2. RORY McILROY vs. 15. JONATHAN BYRD Player
Accenture Match Play records: McIlroy is 4-2; Byrd is 2-1
McIlroy makes his first appearance Stateside this year, and he seems in good form after a couple of top-10 finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Byrd, of course, has already won on TOUR this year (the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions). His only other appearance in this event came in 2008 when he knocked out Ernie Els in the first round.
16 11:55 a.m.
7. ADAM SCOTT vs. 10. BEN CRANE Player
Accenture Match Play records: Scott is 14-9; Crane is 4-3
Scott, a semifinalist here in 2003, has not beaten an American in this event in his last four tries. In fact, eight of his nine losses have come against U.S. players. But none of those have come against Crane, who has never lost in the first round in three starts.
17 12:05 p.m.
4. MATT KUCHAR vs. 13. ANDERS HANSEN Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Kuchar is 1-1; Hansen is 1-4
Kuchar is only making his second start here, but he's a veteran of match play, having won the U.S. Amateur in 1997. He's become one of the TOUR's most consistent players, having already produced three top-10 finishes. But he'll need to be leery of Hansen, who ousted Lucas Glover in the first round last year for his only win in four Match Play starts.
18 12:15 p.m.
5. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN vs. 12. BO VAN PELT Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Oosthuizen is 0-1; Van Pelt is 0-0
Two years ago, Oosthuizen lost in the first round to Rory McIlroy. Who figured two years later he'd return as the reigning British Open champ? This time he'll go up against Van Pelt, who is making his Match Play debut. Van Pelt has struggled this year, with four missed cuts in five starts.
19 12:25 p.m.
4. DUSTIN JOHNSON vs. 13. MARK WILSON Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Johnson is 0-2; Wilson is 0-0
Johnson has lost to Steve Stricker and Camilo Villegas in his first two attempts, so nothing to be ashamed about there. Now he'll take on Wilson, who's already a two-time winner on TOUR this year and the leader in FedExCup points. Wilson is making his first Match Play start and is coming off a back-in-the-pack effort at Riviera.
20 12:35 p.m.
5. BUBBA WATSON vs. 12. BILL HAAS Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Watson is 0-0; Haas is 0-0
Difficult not to look ahead at a possible big bombers matchup between Watson and Dustin Johnson in the second round, but stepping past Haas won't be easy. Haas hasn't gotten into the winner's circle this year, but he has been as solid as anybody, with four of five finishes inside the top 12. And Watson had to withdraw from Riviera with a strained muscle stomach.
21 12:45 p.m.
4. RETIEF GOOSEN vs. 13. K.J. CHOI Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Goosen is 15-11; Choi is 5-7
Goosen has reached the quarterfinals or better in three of his last six appearances here, but he can also stumble out of the gate on occasion. Choi reached the quarterfinals in 2008 but otherwise, his record in this event is not distinguished. Still, it will be interesting to see a couple of wily veterans slug it out.
12:55 p.m.
5. FRANCESCO MOLINARI vs. 12. RYAN MOORE Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Molinari is 0-1; Johnson is 7-6
Molinari lost to Zach Johnson in 21 holes in the first round last year, so you'll know he'll be itching to get out of the first round this time (he'll also be itching to make a little money after the recent birth of first child). Moore lost to Ernie Els in the first round last year. He comes off a tie for fourth at the Northern Trust Open, so he's got a little momentum.
23 1:05 p.m.
4. ROBERT KARLSSON vs. 13. HIROYUKI FUJITA Player
Accenture Match Play records: Karlsson is 1-5; Fujita is 0-0
After four straight first-round losses, Karlsson finally broke through with a first-round win over Rory Sabbatini last year. He gets to play another 40-something in Fujita, a veteran of the Japan Tour who is making his Match Play debut.
24 1:15 p.m.
5. HUNTER MAHAN vs. 12. SEAN O'HAIR Player
Accenture Match Play records: Mahan is 2-3; O'Hair is 5-3
The recently married Mahan has a spotty Match Play record, and every golf fan knows what happened to him at the Ryder Cup. This is his first chance to get back onto the match play saddle, and that should be good motivation. O'Hair reached the quarterfinals in 2009 and has never lost a first-round match in three tries.
25 1:25 p.m.
1. PHIL MICKELSON vs. 16. BRENDAN JONES Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Mickelson is 15-10; Jones is 0-2
Mickelson hasn't lost a first-round match in his last seven attempts but he's never gotten past the quarterfinals in 10 career starts. He missed last year's event but comes in feeling pretty good about his game. Jones has lost to Adam Scott and Tiger Woods in his two first-round starts and it's doubtful anybody expects him to end that drought.
26 1:35 p.m.
8. RICKIE FOWLER vs. 9. PETER HANSON Hogan
Accenture Match Play records: Fowler is 0-0; Hanson is 2-3
Young Mr. Fowler could be poised to make a big run this week. His aggressive mentality should do well in this format, and he showed at the Ryder Cup that he enjoys the one-on-one pressure. Hanson had his best World Golf Championships finish at last year's Bridgestone Invitational (a tie for eighth) and he reached the third round two years ago.
27 1:45 a.m.
1. TIGER WOODS vs. 16. THOMAS BJORN Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Woods is 32-7; Bjorn is 4-6
You look at Woods' stellar record and the fact he's won this event three times, and there's reason for optimism. But he's simply not there yet with his game. If Bjorn is looking for a sign of optimism, he can check out the bracket results from 2002. That's the year Tiger lost to Peter O'Malley in the first round -- the only time Tiger hasn't gotten past the first day.
28 1:55 p.m.
8. GEOFF OGILVY vs. 9. PADRAIG HARRINGTON Snead
Accenture Match Play records: Ogilvy is 18-3; Harrington is 11-10
THE SKINNY: Two big names meet in the first round. Ogilvy has reached the finals three times, winning twice. Harrington reached the quarterfinals in 2006 but since then, he's lost four of six matches. He's been having a yo-yo start to 2011, with good rounds followed by poor ones. Go with Ogilvy on track record alone.
29 2:05 p.m.
1. LEE WESTWOOD vs. 16. HENRIK STENSON Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Westwood is 6-11; Stenson is 12-4
The world's top-ranked player was supposed to play Toru Taniguchi in the first round, but the match suddenly seems a lot more difficult now that Stenson has replaced the injured Taniguchi. Westwood hasn't done particularly well here and Stenson is a former champion (2007). Could this be the 64th seed knocking off No. 1?
30 2:15 p.m.
8. NICK WATNEY vs. 9. ANTHONY KIM Jones
Accenture Match Play records: Watney is 2-1; Kim is 1-2
Watney knocked off Westwood in the second round last year and could meet him again in the same round, but first, he must get past Kim. Watney is on fire, with three top-10 finishes in three starts this year, while Kim had to withdraw from the Northern Trust Open with an illness. Kim is a scrappy but Watney has the momentum.
31 2:25 p.m.
1. MARTIN KAYMER vs. 16. SEUNG-YUL NOH Player
Accenture Match Play records: Kaymer is 2-3; Noh is 0-0
The reigning PGA champ won in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and will be seeking his first win in any World Golf Championships event. Noh doesn't turn 20 until May and could be forgiven for feeling a little intimidated.
32 2:35 p.m.
8. ZACH JOHNSON vs. 9. JUSTIN ROSE Player
Accenture Match Play records: Johnson is 7-6; Rose is 4-5
Johnson reached the semifinals in 2006 but has won just two of his last six matches. Rose has lost in the first round in three of five starts but he did reach the quarterfinals in 2007. With four solid starts and a top-10 finish under his best, Rose seems to be in excellent form.
