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**truebluefan** · 01-10-2008, 04:57 PM

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**truebluefan** · 02-14-2008, 11:59 AM

In less than three weeks, the field for the 2008 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship will be set, and players from across the globe are getting into position to compete in the first World Golf Championship event of the season, kicking off the 10-year anniversary of the series.
If the 64-player field closed today, nearly two-thirds of those qualified would come from outside the United States, as 44 international players from 15 countries are currently ranked in the top 64 from the Official World Golf Ranking, including Germany's Martin Kaymer, who won the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday to move up 42 places in the World Ranking, from 76 to 34. The top-64 available players from the World Ranking released on Monday, February 11, will qualify for this year's event at The Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz., Feb. 18-24.

Under the current standings, Australia would qualify the most players, outside of the United States, with 11 Aussies led by No. 8 Adam Scott and 2006 Accenture Match Play Championship winner Geoff Ogilvy (No. 13). Last year, eight Australian players qualified for the Accenture Match Play Championship. Scott is looking to continue the momentum from a career season in 2007 in which he won his fifth PGA TOUR title, qualified for his third Presidents Cup team and finished 12th in the FedExCup. The 2007 Accenture Match Play Championship will be Scott's seventh start in the event. His best finish came in 2003 when he finished third.

Both England and South Africa have six players currently within the top 64 in the World Ranking. England's qualifiers are headlined by European Tour Order of Merit winner Justin Rose (No. 6), who is looking for his first win on the PGA TOUR after an excellent showing in 2007. Rose set personal bests in earnings (more than $2.7 million), top-10 finishes (7) and finished in the top 12 at all four major championships. He tied for fifth at the 2007 Accenture Match Play Championship.

Other countries that have players currently ranked in the top 64 include: Argentina (2); Canada (2); Colombia (1); Denmark (2); Fiji (1); Germany (1); Ireland (1); Japan (2); South Korea (1); Spain (2); Sweden (5); United States (20); and Wales (1).

Players in each of the four brackets are seeded No. 1 through No. 16, with the top-ranked golfer playing the No. 16 seed, No. 2 pairing off against No. 15, No. 3 vs. No. 14, and so forth in the first round.

The Accenture Match Play Championship was held in Arizona for the first time in 2007. Henrik Stenson captured his first PGA TOUR win by defeating defending champion Geoff Ogilvy 2 & 1 during the 36-hole final round. Stenson collected the $1.35 million first-place prize and the Walter Hagen Cup.

Tickets may be purchased by visiting Official Home - World Golf Championships or by calling 1-866-WGC-AMPC (1-866-942-2672).

**truebluefan** · 02-15-2008, 11:13 PM

Ernie Els has decided to launch his 2008 PGA Tour campaign earlier than scheduled and will play in next week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, his manager said on Thursday.

The globe-trotting Els, on European Tour duty in Dubai and India over the last two weeks, had initially planned to make his first appearance in the United States at the Feb. 29-March 2 Honda Classic.

"Ernie feels fine and will play in Tucson next week," his manager Andrew Chandler told Reuters in a text message.

The elite Accenture Match Play Championship, being held at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club in Arizona for the second year in a row, features the top 64 players in the world.

Although South African Els has won the European Tour's World Match Play Championship at Wentworth a record seven times, he has struggled to make an impact in the PGA Tour's equivalent.

In seven appearances, he has been knocked out in the opening round four times, most recently by Britain's Bradley Dredge last year.

Els's best performance came in 2001 when the event was held in Australia for the first time and he reached the semi-finals, losing to Swede Pierre Fulke 2&1.

Swede Henrik Stenson won last year's Accenture Match Play Championship, beating holder Geoff Ogilvy of Australia 2&1 in the final.

**truebluefan** · 02-18-2008, 08:17 PM

LOS ANGELES, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Upsets are likely to dominate the agenda at this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona where Henrik Stenson defends his title.
The big-hitting Swede was seeded ninth at last year's event but faced no one ranked higher than 11th in his six matches, with the game's biggest names all making premature exits.
Ernie Els lost to Britain's Bradley Dredge 4&2 in the opening round and Phil Mickelson was knocked out 3&1 by Justin Rose, also of Britain, on the second day.
"The tough thing in a match-play tournament is you face elimination straightaway," Stenson told reporters during preparation for the opening World Golf Championships (WGC) event of the year.
"It can be really tough for guys travelling halfway around the world to just play one match but that's the name of the game. I think the majority of the guys really like it."
Stenson, who became the second European to win the coveted title with a 2&1 victory over holder Geoff Ogilvy of Australia in last year's final, relishes the format.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 02-18-2008, 08:17 PM

PACIFIC PALISADES, California, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Irishman Padraig Harrington was in upbeat mood for next week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship after tying for third place in the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
The British Open champion birdied four of the last nine holes for a three-under-par 68 at Riviera Country Club, finishing five strokes behind winner Phil Mickelson.
"I'm happy with the performance," Harrington told reporters after posting a seven-under total of 277. "Today was a little bit up and down but it's early season. This is what I'm here for.
"I tried to be aggressive, go out there and maybe shoot six or seven under par and see what happens. It was a question of knuckling down and getting the best out of the round I could."

Complete article

**King Woods** · 02-20-2008, 05:45 PM

Tiger's just won 3 holes in a row to bring his match to all swquae. This would be one of his best comebacks ever. But on 17, Tiger's missed the fairway and JB Holmes bombed it. PGATOUR.com - WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship

**truebluefan** · 02-21-2008, 10:50 PM

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) - Tiger Woods produced another incredible comeback in the desert Wednesday, playing the final five holes in 5-under par to turn what looked like certain defeat into an unlikely victory in the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Woods fell behind J.B. Holmes on the first hole when his tee shot sailed into the desert and out of play, and he was three holes down with five to play after taking another penalty shot from the desert.

But he turned it around quickly, winning the next four holes, capped by a 35-foot eagle putt on the 17th. He escaped with a 1-up victory on the 18th when Holmes missed an 8-foot birdie putt.

"I just kept telling myself, even when I was 3 down, there's still a chance to win in regulation," Woods said. "I was just going to have to start playing a hell of a lot better. Then all of a sudden, putts started falling in from everywhere."

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 02-21-2008, 10:50 PM

MARANA, Arizona, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Ernie Els became the first big name to fall by the wayside when he was crushed 6&5 by American Jonathan Byrd in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday.
The South African world number four bogeyed four of the first nine holes before losing the match on the 13th green, the fifth time he has lost in the tournament's opening round in eight appearances.
Byrd, world-ranked 63rd, reeled off six birdies in a flawless display at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club for a winning start on his debut in the first World Golf Championships (WGC) event of the year.
"I feel good about where my game is and in a week like this you've got all to gain, nothing to lose," a beaming Byrd told reporters.
"I went out there and played some really good golf. I barely got in the field so I was excited about being here, and excited about having a good match with Ernie. It was fun."

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 02-21-2008, 10:51 PM

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) - Tiger Woods stayed on course for an eighth title in nine starts worldwide in Thursday's second round at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship as second seed Phil Mickelson was knocked out.

World number one Woods sealed a comfortable 3&2 win over fellow American Arron Oberholser but left-hander Mickelson was beaten by 31st-seeded Stuart Appleby of Australia 2&1.

Twice champion Woods, who fought back from three down with five holes remaining to edge big-hitting J.B. Holmes the previous day, rattled up five birdies in a flawless display.

Complete article

**King Woods** · 02-22-2008, 07:11 PM

Tiger won another close match today against Aaron Baddely. This is the event he normally struggles in, but it seems like this year the golfing Gods are just not willing to let him lose.