Tiger Watch - Bjorn Beats Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods at Accenture Match Play

Thomas Bjørn (16) defeast Tiger Woods (1), 19 holes 

Woods, a three-time Match Play winner, suffered just his second first-round loss in this event. This one is not as much a shocker as his 2002 loss to Peter O'Malley. After all, Woods is going through swing changes and has yet to show the form usually expected of him. Woods did make a clutch birdie putt at the 18th hole to extend the match, but any momentum was snuffed out with his ensuing drive at the 19th hole (the par-4 first). 

Woods' tee shot sailed right of the fairway into the heavy brush, and he couldn't hack his way out with his second shot. He finally found the fairway with his third shot, but he missed an 18-footer for bogey that would have kept him in the match.

Next opponent for Bjorn: Geoff Ogilvy

Manassero Eliminates Steve Stricker

Matteo Manassero

Steve Stricker turned 44 years old on Wednesday, but after being upset by the youngest player to ever play in a World Golf Championships event, he was hardly in any mood to celebrate. 

The veteran TOUR pro could never get untracked as he suffered a first-round loss for the second consecutive year. 

Stricker's highlights came during a two-hole stretch just before making the turn, when he eagled the par-5 eighth and won the ninth with a par. That put him 1-up going into the back nine. But he bogeyed the 10th when his tee shot and approach shot each found the native, allowing the 17-year-old Italian teen to square the match. 

The 16th turned out to be the pivotal hole, as Stricker missed a 6-foot, 8-inch par putt to fall 1 down. Manassero then closed out the match in style, rolling in a 21-foot, 7-inch birdie putt at the 17th. Next opponent for Manassero: Charl Schwartzel-Ryo Ishikawa winner

EDOARDO MOLINARI (6) def. MARTIN LAIRD (11), 3 and 2

Molinari found himself 2 down after a bogey at the sixth hole. But from there, he went on a birdie fest to wrestle control of the match away from the Scotsman. Molinari birdied five of the next seven holes as he took full advantage of Dove Mountain's par-5 holes. 

The Italian had a hot putter during the stretch, making birdie putts of 14 feet, 3 inches; 12 feet, 7 inches; and 20 feet, 10 inches. When the match reached the 14th hole, Molinari was 3 up, and Laird had nothing left for a late comeback.

Next opponent for Molinari: Luke Donald

RORY McILROY (2) def. JONATHAN BYRD (15), 4 and 2

McIlroy couldn't win the second hole with a birdie and didn't lose the third hole with a bogey. But when he eagled the par-4 fourth hole -- his tee shot came up just short of the 339-yard hole and he holed out from the fairway -- the Northern Irishman had a lead that he would not relinquish for the rest of the round. 

"I played very solid golf," said McIlroy, who reached the quarterfinals two years ago in his Accenture Match Play debut. Byrd, who won earlier this year at the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions, had his chances. He squared the match when he birdied the eight, but promptly fell behind again when he missed a three-footer for par at the ninth. After that, he could never put another red number on his card.

Next opponent for McIlroy: Adam Scott-Ben Crane winner

RYAN PALMER (14) def. JIM FURYK (3), 2 up

You could see this coming. Furyk has struggled out of the gate this season, and his play on Wednesday must have left him frustrated. After what could have been a confidence-boosting eagle at the par-5 second, Furyk soon embarked on a nine-hole birdie-free stretch in which he posted four bogeys and two double bogeys. When Palmer got up and down at the par-5 11th for birdie, he found himself 3 up. Furyk did respond with a birdie at the 12th and a Palmer bogey at the 14th cut his lead to 1 up. But Furyk ended with bogeys on two of his last three holes. The usually accurate Furyk hit just 8 of 18 greens in regulation as he lost in the first round for the fifth time in his last eight starts in this event.

Next opponent for Palmer: Miguel A. Jimenez-Yuta Ikeda winner

McDowell Overcomes Slocum

Paul Casey early winner on Wednesday

Last year's runner-up Paul Casey breathed a huge sigh of relief that he did not join twelfth seed Poulter, who was two up with six to play but lost on the first extra hole to 2009 Open Champion Stewart Cink.

Then sixth seed Casey, who has reached the last two finals in the event, had to go to sudden death as well, but survived when Australian left-hander Richard Green three-putted the 19th.

Casey commented: "I just never got it going. I didn't birdie any par five - it really was pretty poor. I made a real botch of the 17th, but Richard kind of handed it to me on the 19th."

Casey joined fellow Englishmen Luke Donald and Ross Fisher, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, 17 year old Italian Matteo Manassero and compatriot Edoardo Molinari among the early winners.

Out in the very first match just before 8am - 30 minutes later than planned because of frost - Poulter's interest in the event had ended before Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood had even played a hole.

But while Cink is now outside the world's top 50, the American was a quarter-finalist last year, a semi-finalist in 2009 and a finalist the season before that.

He said: "It was like a Jekyll and Hyde kind of a round out there for me. I didn't have much or on the front nine at all, then my putter woke up.

"It needed to be because I would be going home otherwise. Neither of us played our very best and I'm just pleased to move on - Ian's a guy I really respect and I drew probably the toughest match in the field."

Donald was the first player into the last 32, beating American Charley Hoffman 6 and 5, and he will next play Ryder Cup team-mate Edoardo Molinari.

Donald's victory threatened to be even more convincing when he took seven of the first ten holes.

"Charley was not on his A-game," he said. "I was probably three or four under and I'll take the win, but it was not too hard fortunately."

Molinari came from two down after six to beat Scot Martin Laird 3 and 2, but that was not the biggest turnaround. Ernie Els lost the first three holes to American Jeff Overton, but won on the 19th.

There is another all-European Ryder Cup clash in the second round, The Celtic Manor Resort hero McDowell against Fisher.

Both won 4 and 3, McDowell against American Heath Slocum and Fisher against Australian Robert Allenby.

"It was reasonably straightforward," stated US Open Champion McDowell, the fifth seed.

"Heath didn't have his best day and for a change I played nicely and got the job done."

It was only his second win in six games at the tournament.

Fisher, in contrast, was a semi-finalist two years ago and later that season won golf's other World Match Play tournament in Spain.

"It wasn't flawless, awesome golf, but in match play you don't have to play perfectly and Robert was a little bit off," he said.

McIlroy chipped in for eagle at the 393 yard fourth and went on to beat American Jonathan Byrd 4 and 2, all the more satisfying because the ‘Golf Channel’ had tipped him to lose.

"It obviously gives you a little extra to go out and prove them wrong," said the 21 year old.

"I felt if I played my game I would be tough to beat."

McIlroy has another American, Ben Crane, in the second round.

Woods and top seed Westwood were among the later starters, Woods against Dane Thomas Björn and Westwood against 2007 winner Henrik Stenson, a replacement for Japan's Toru Taniguchi.

In a perfect illustration of his recent form Woods bogeyed the first, birdied the second and then hit a shocker into almost the middle of the lake on the short third.

The reigning U.S. Open champ did not get off to a good start, losing the opening hole after his approach shot sailed over the green. After taking a drop, McDowell could not save his par from the rough. 

But he roared back with a 17-foot putt for eagle at the par-5 second to square the match. He then won four of the next five holes, thanks to three Slocum bogeys and a McDowell birdie at the par-3 sixth when he rolled in a putt from outside 21 feet. When Slocum bogeyed the 11th when his tee shot sailed wide left, McDowell was 5-up and cruising. 

The win ends a three-match losing streak in the first round by McDowell.

Next opponent for McDowell: Robert Allenby-Ross Fisher winner

Luke Donald Beats Charley Hoffman

Luke Donald with caddie John McLaren

LUKE DONALD (3) def. CHARLEY HOFFMAN (14), 6 and 5 

Hoffman, making his Accenture Match Play debut, received a thorough spanking from the Englishman, who maintains his perfect record (now 7-0) in first-round matches in this event. Donald claimed the second hole with a two-foot birdie and the third hole when Hoffman took two strokes to get out of the greenside bunker. It didn't get any better from there. Hoffman continued to self-destruct, carding four bogeys during a six-hole stretch while Donald stayed out of trouble, throwing in a couple of birdies himself for good measure. After Hoffman three-putted the 10th hole from 40 feet, he was 7-down. His only red number of the day, an eagle at the 11th, merely prolonged the agony.

Next opponent for Donald: Edoardo Molinari-Martin Laird winner

Tim Clark Withdraws from WGC Matchplay

Tim Clark 

Tim Clark has withdrawn from the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship due to an injury.

The South African, who won THE PLAYERS Championship last year, has been replaced by J.B. Holmes.

Holmes will now play Camilo Villegas in Match 4 at 9:55 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The match is in the Sam Snead bracket.

Holmes has only played in one Accenture Match Play Championship, nearly pulling off an upset of Tiger Woods in 2008 before losing 1 down.

Clark has not played since he tied for second at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He developed severe blisters on his foot there, then was sidelined by an elbow injury and withdrew from the Bob Hope Classic, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Northern Trust Open.

The next alternate is Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, followed by Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Lucas Glover of the United States.

Accenture Matchplay - The Matches

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.

Matteo Manassero To Set New Record

Matteo Manassero

Matteo Manassero has already achieved so much in his fledgling career that it is hard to believe he has yet to play in the United States as a professional.

The 17 year old Italian, who has a European Tour victory and a string of records to his name, will make his debut appearance in America since joining the paid ranks in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship this week, having risen to 57th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Yet another record will be smashed in Tucson, Arizona; at 17 years and 310 days, he is the youngest player to play in a WGC event, beating the previous one set by Ryo Ishikawa, who was 18 and 153 days old at the start of last year’s tournament.

Manassero has left a trail of broken records in his wake as he has risen to golfing stardom in the last couple of years. His only other appearance in America was at the Masters Tournament, aged 16 and still an amateur, where he became the youngest player to make the cut and, in finishing tied 36th, produced the best performance by a European amateur for 73 years.

It will be a match-up of youth versus experience at Ritz Carlton Golf Club as Manassero is drawn in the first round against Steve Stricker, who at 44 is the second oldest player in the field after Miguel Angel Jiménez.

Stricker has a fine record in match play – evidenced by his winning three points from four at The 2010 Ryder Cup – but Manassero will not be fazed by his opponent. At The 2009 Open Championship, a confident 16 year old from Turin wowed the golfing world with a performance that belied his tender years, relishing the opportunity of playing with veteran Tom Watson and Spanish star Sergio Garcia in the first two rounds to eventually win the silver medal in a tie for 13th place. 

The Junior Ryder Cup player had already been tipped as one to watch after his victory in the Amateur Championship, where he was the youngest – and first Italian - winner in history, but his showing at Turnberry really put Manassero on the radar.

His Amateur Championship victory also opened up a route to Augusta National the following April, where he again showed he can mix it with the game’s big guns. “Definitely it will help me in all areas to play with these guys, be comfortable with this crowd and to understand that I can compete with these guys,” Manassero said at the time.

"It's very important. Playing on a course like this obviously makes you understand that you can play on every course."

Manassero went from strength to strength during the rest of 2010, winning the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar and finishing second and third at the UBS Hong Kong Open and the Omega European Masters respectively. He became the second youngest European Tour Member, after his hero Seve Ballesteros, and was named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

Next Manassero can turn his attentions to the other side of the Atlantic, where he will hope to emulate his countryman Francesco Molinari, who triumphed at the WGC-HSBC Champions late last year, in winning a WGC event. Indeed, it is a fine time for Italian golf with Francesco’s older brother Edoardo also making waves on The European Tour and the two siblings teaming up to win the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in November 2009 and The Ryder Cup last October.

Whereas the Molinaris’ rise to the top was fairly steady, however, Manassero’s has been meteoric, and as another record falls this week it is hard to see the teenager not achieving great things in world golf in the next few years.

Westwood Seeks Better Accenture Record

Lee Westwood 

Lee Westwood returns to Tucson looking to improve his record at a tournament which presents an unusual blip in an otherwise glittering career.

In ten trips to the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play, England's World Number One has never made it beyond the second round.

And now he has to face a former winner on the opening day in Arizona - ex-Ryder Cup teammate Henrik Stenson, called into the 64-man field at the weekend when Japan's Toru Taniguchi withdrew with neck trouble.

Defending champion Ian Poulter relayed a message from the Swede, champion in 2007, to Westwood on arrival in Tucson.

"Henrik says you better bring your 'A' game No 1," tweeted Poulter. "He fancies getting hold of that trophy again."

People talk about Westwood's career lacking only a Major, but he does not have a victory in any of the World Golf Championships series yet either.

The 37 year old from Worksop has had second place finishes in all three of the WGC stroke play events just like he has in The Open Championship and Masters Tournament, but he even considered staying away from the Match Play for a while because of his record and its scheduling so early in the season.

"I'm wondering what Friday looks like in this tournament," he said today.

"The first day is probably one of the most exciting days of the year as far as golf spectators are concerned, watching all the different matches going on, but there are no easy games.

"I've played pretty well here, but you occasionally run up against people that are playing well."

Westwood's position at the top of the rankings is once again under threat from both Martin Kaymer and Tiger Woods, but that is the last thing on his mind.

"I'm not feeling any pressure to defend - I'm fairly used to it," he said.

It has been off the course rather than on it that he has noticed more of a difference.

"I didn't realize the massive jump to going to World Number One - the demands on your time and doing interviews and things. Profile elevation, I guess.

"So that's the main thing you have to get your head around, time management, saying 'No' a lot."

Having turned down US PGA Tour membership, Westwood would like to see more than just one of the World Championships outside America.

"I think there's a bit too much in the United States. We're trying to push the game around the world and it's part of having it in the Olympics coming up (in 2016), trying to create enthusiasm in places like China and around Asia and South America.

"You ought to take these big tournaments to those places. That would be my only change. I think the formats are great."

Poulter does not have the easiest of starts to his title defence.

American Stewart Cink, Open Champion two years ago, reached the quarter-finals last year, was third in 2009 and three years ago was runner-up to Woods.

Cink, though, has dropped outside the world's top 50 and has not won a tournament since beating 59 year old Tom Watson in a play-off at Turnberry.

It was an all-English final last year with Poulter defeating Paul Casey, but that event did not have Woods or Phil Mickelson in it and both are back now.

Three-time winner Woods, seeded only third this time, starts against Dane Thomas Bjӧrn, the winner in Qatar earlier this month.

Mickelson, still seeded fourth even though he has since dropped back to fifth in the world behind Graeme McDowell, has made it to the quarter-finals only once and that was seven years ago.

His first opponent is Australian Brendan Jones, while McDowell opens against American Heath Slocum.

Kaymer Confident Despite Draw

Martin Kaymer believes his climb to Number 2 in the world rankings does little to assist him win this week's World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play, because any of the world's top 64 are capable of landing the title in Tucson.

Kaymer was the top seed in the Ben Hogan bracket last year, but went out in the second round to Tim Clark of South Africa.

And the 26 year old, who has since won the US PGA Championship and Race to Dubai, believes golf's current strength in depth makes for plenty of potential upsets.

"Maybe ten, 15 years ago it may have made a difference if you were number one or number 64 in the World Rankings," said Kaymer, who faces Korea's Noh Seung-yul in the opening round.

"But these days I don't think it will make any difference. If you play against number one or against number 64 or in our case this year, 65th, it doesn't make any difference. And if he's from Korea, from Sweden, from England, from America, it doesn't really matter.

"I'm looking forward to the week. My record is not great here in match play, but, you know, obviously what happened last year and at the Ryder Cup and the tournaments that I've played, especially after the Ryder Cup, winning a few more, winning Abu Dhabi three or four weeks ago gives me a little more confidence and a little bit more motivation and belief that I can play well and win here."

Last year seven European Tour Members featured in the last eight, before Ian Poulter overcame Paul Casey in an all-European final.

And Kaymer admits national pride is at stake as much as personal glory this week.

"I'm representing myself. And I belong to both, obviously more to Germany. I would say I'm playing more for Germany," he added.

Defending champion Poulter was in full agreement with his Ryder Cup teammate that there were no easy games as the world's best players descend on Arizona.

"You're going to see some upsets tomorrow," he added. "You're also going to see some guys get through shooting one or two over par. You just have to beat your opponent. Whether it's Westwood, whether it's someone further down the rank action, you just have to play your game and hopefully that's good enough."

Casey Hoping for One Better at Matchplay

Paul Casey Accenture Matchplay in 2010

England’s Paul Casey is hoping to go one better at this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, having finished runner-up in the event for the past two years.

The World Number Six was edged out in the Final by Australian Geoff Ogilvy in 2009 and by his compatriot Ian Poulter last year, but is hoping to strike it third time lucky at the Ritz-Carlton GC in Dove Mountain, America. 

The 33 year old faces another Australian, fellow European Tour Member Richard Green, in the first round of the $8.5million event, which gets underway on Wednesday. 

Commenting on his superb record in the event, Casey said: “I think I’ve always been a player who’s been fairly aggressive on the golf course, makes a lot of birdies and then occasionally will throw in the odd mistake. I did that even last week [at the Northern Trust Open] – I made a triple bogey on the 10th on Saturday, when my ball got it stuck in a palm tree. 

“You cannot get away with that in a stroke play event, whereas match play’s not quite as penal. You maybe lose the hole, but it doesn’t kill your chance of winning the tournament. So in match play, I think I can get away with the mistakes I occasionally make on the golf course.

“I also think I’ve had a very good approach mentally to playing match play. I always feel that if you keep the ball in play, and you’re very consistent and you put a lot of pressure on the other guy, it’s very difficult to play against. I tend to play the golf course, not the player. 

“But by doing that and by making lots of birdies and being aggressive and knowing what you’ve got to do on putts, I seem to do well and make a lot of putts. And it’s actually an attitude that I’ve been trying to carry over to a lot of my stroke play events.”

In contrast to Casey’s impressive record in the event, reigning US Open Champion Graeme McDowell has sometimes struggled to make an impression, making it past the first round just once in four previous attempts. But the Ulsterman is determined to put that right in Arizona this week. 

He said: “I haven’t exactly displayed my match play prowess so far in this golf tournament, so I’m very keen to get here this year and try and change that.

“I think back to the last two years, and I’ve played okay. I feel like my first round matches the last two years, against Zach Johnson in 2009 and Luke Donald last year, I played well enough to win. I just ran into guys who played better than me. But that’s the nature of this golf tournament. And sometimes you can play badly and win your first round match, and sometimes you can play pretty well and get beaten.

“I’m very keen to get here this week and try and win a couple of games. And I think it’s one of those weeks where if you can get a little momentum going, you can go far. Mathematically it’s probably the easiest golf tournament you will ever win because you only need to beat six guys, but it doesn’t work out like that. You’ve got 64 great players here this week all trying to do their job, so it’s very much about who you play on the day. And 18 hole match play can be quite the battle.”

McDowell’s compatriot Rory McIlroy faces American Jonathan Byrd, who is enjoying a fine season having won twice on the US PGA Tour, including the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions. 

McIlroy said: “I think he’s won two tournaments in his last ten starts, so he’s obviously playing pretty well. I watched a bit of the tournament in Hawaii at the start of the year, and he played very well there. 

“So obviously he had a good run and is going to be tough to beat, but you're never going to get easy matches this week. He’ll be a very tough opponent, and I’ll have to play my best or somewhere near my best to beat him.”

Rory McIlroy Back at Dove Mountain

Rory McIlory in2009

Two years ago this week Rory McIlroy introduced himself to the global game.

McIlroy, who was just 19 at the time, came to Dove Mountain riding the wave of a win in Dubai. He went on to reach the quarterfinals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

McIlroy has since added a win at the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA TOUR and is now ranked seventh in the world. Interestingly, too, is the fact that he’s now something of an "elder" statesman with three teenagers in the field this week.

Italy’s Matteo Manassero, who turns 18 in April, has already won on the European Tour, as has Korea’s Seung-yul Noh, who is 19. And Ryo Ishikawa, who is 19, already has 11 victories on the Japan Tour. 

"I played Matteo this morning and it’s hard to believe he’s in this tournament as a 17-year-old," McIlroy said. "It’s pretty incredible, really. And there’s so many young guys coming through, even the younger guys like Noh Seung-yul from Korea and you’ve got Ryo Ishikawa, Rickie Fowler, Matteo Manassero and myself, all guys that are 21 and younger. 

"I think it’s great. It’s great for the game of golf, it makes it a little more exciting. And add to that group the likes of Dustin Johnson, I think him, the guys that are in their mid 20s, it’s exciting times for golf."

That said, much is expected from the young Irishman with that distinctive mop of curly brown hair. In fact, recently on Twitter his countryman, Graeme McDowell, picked McIlroy as his favorite at the Masters — and that comes from the reigning U.S. Open champion, no less.

"I think he’s one of the most talented players ever I’ve had the pleasure of playing with," said McDowell, who has become a close friend. "He’s only won twice, but he’s a young man, and he’s No. 7 player in the world. So he’s got there with consistency, as opposed to just having big weeks here and there. He’s a hell of a consistent player.

"I played with him this morning. He makes the game look incredibly easy. And I think he’s got a game that probably suits the like of Augusta. The way he drives the ball, it’s only a matter of time before he gets his head around a golf course like Augusta.

"His golf brain is young, but he makes up for it with a lot of talent and skill. And once the golf brain matures, and he keeps coming to golf courses like this, and Augusta, and Open golf courses, it’s only a matter of time until he gets his head around and it understands how to control his talent. And it’s going to be pretty scary what the guy can achieve.

“That’s great. I think we’ve got a lot of young players coming through like Rory, Rickie Fowlers, Ryo Ishikawas, and Matteo Manasseros, I think the game is really healthy. We’ve got a lot of super stars in the making. And it’s been great to match Rory’s career unfold the last few years, and to watch it unfold the next ten years, I think he can really be a great player."

Accenture Matchplay by Numbers

13 –This will be the 13th WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. It was first played in 1999 at the La Costa Resort & Spa.

5 – The number of American winners of the event. They are: Jeff Maggert (1999), Steve Stricker (2001), Kevin Sutherland (2002), Tiger Woods (2003, 2004 and 2008) and David Toms (2005).

12 – The number of higher seeds beating the lower seeds in the first round in 2010.

3 – Matteo Manassero, Edoardo and Francesco Molinari will make history by becoming the first time three Italians have played in the same WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship.

62 – Kevin Sutherland is the lowest ranked seed to with the Championship. He was seeded 62nd in 2002 when he defeated Scott McCarron.

2 – Tiger Woods (2003, 2004 and 2008) and Geoff Ogilvy (2006 and 2009) are the only players to record multiple victories in the event.

4 – The number of former winners playing this week. They are: Steve Stricker (2001), Tiger Woods (2003, 2004 and 2008), Geoff Ogilvy (2006 and 2009) and Henrik Stenson (2007).

47 – The age of the oldest competitor, Miguel Angel Jiménez.

15 – The number of different countries competing this week.

3 – First time in the history of the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship that three teenagers have competed in the same year. They are: Ryo Ishikawa, Matteo Manassero, Noh Seung-yul.

Irish Trio Play Accenture Matchplay

2010 Winner Ian Poulter

Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington are the three Irish players who tee up this week at the Ritz Carlton Resort as part of the world's top 64 golfers in the World Golf Championship  Accenture Matchplay  in Tucson Arizona

McDowell arrives as the world number four and returns to action following his first outing of the year at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship with McIlroy two places further behind in the rankings hoping to amend the poor finish on the last day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.


Padraig Harrington in 35th place for his third consecutive week in the USA having played the Northern Trust Open last week and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am the previous week.

England’s Ian Poulter defends his WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship title in Arizona this week as the current strength in depth of The European Tour again comes sharply into focus on the global stage.

Almost half of the field for the 2011 event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Dove Mountain, Marana – 30 out of 64 – are European Tour Members, highlighting the significant progress made since the inaugural World Golf Championship in California 12 years ago.

Back in 1999, the odds were stacked more heavily against Europe with only 14 Members competing in a tournament which saw four Americans contest the semi-finals and Jeff Maggert claim the title at the expense of Andrew Magee.

This week sees four European Tour survivors from the event which launched the World Golf Championships series - Lee Westwood of England, Ernie Els of South Africa, Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain and Denmark’s Thomas Björn –return to try to emulate Poulter’s achievement.

Poulter tackles 2009 Open Champion Stewart Cink of the United States in Wednesday’s first round while, 12 years on, Westwood appears in the draw for the first time as top seed due to his ranking of Number One in the world, taking on a tough assignment in fellow Ryder Cup player and 2007 champion, Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

World Number Two Martin Kaymer is second seed, facing Korean Noh Seung-yul; third seed Tiger Woods tackles Björn with Mickelson, ranked fourth, meeting Australian Brendan Jones as the event starts with 32 ties and no shortage of opportunities for upsets.

Poulter’s victory over countryman Paul Casey 12 months ago in the first all-European final signalled a period of sustained success in 2010 that resulted in Els and Francesco Molinari claiming two of the remaining three WGC events (the CA Championship and HSBC Champions) and Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Kaymer capturing three of the four Major Championships.

It may be difficult to repeat last year’s WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship success of having seven Members making it through to the last eight, but the omens are good for another outstanding week in the USA.

Casey, meanwhile, will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky having lost in the final of the previous two WGC – Accenture Match Play Championships – to Poulter last year after missing out against Geoff Ogilvy in 2009. The Englishman, in fine form having won the Volvo Golf Champions last month is up against Australia’s Richard Green in round one.

The top 64 players are split into four categories named after true legends of the game – Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Gary Player and Sam Snead – with the winners of each section of the draw moving forward to the semi-finals.

There is no shortage of intriguing match-ups, with 17 year old rookie Matteo Manassero of Italy – the youngest player to compete in a WGC event – taking on the vastly experienced American Steve Stricker while Sweden’s Peter Hanson faces one of America’s brightest young prospects, Rickie Fowler.

Spain’s most recent European Tour winner, Alvaro Quiros, clashes with 2009 US PGA Champion Y E Yang of Korea, Justin Rose of England meets past Masters Champion Zach Johnson of the USA and three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland crosses swords with Ogilvy, the Australian who denied Casey the title two years ago.

One of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments on the season, the WGC – Accenture Match Play is always a thrilling event to watch due to the head-to-head nature of the competition. The fun begins on Wednesday but who will be the last man standing on Sunday night?