Maginnes: High drama ruled the opening round

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MARANA, Ariz. -- The difference between the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and every other event on the PGA TOUR is the difference between a snit and an argument.

Most Wednesdays are noncompetitive good-will gestures that involve a pro-am and lots of smiles and handshakes. Even the only other competitive Wednesday on TOUR, the first round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, is mostly a hit and giggle.

Jonathan Byrd had an impressive round one win over Ernie Els on Wednesday. (Halleran/Getty Images)

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But the Wednesday of the Accenture Match Play Championship is arguably the most exciting day of golf that you can count on all year long. Not even Sunday at a major championship guarantees high drama. There are occasions when the outcome of a stroke play tournament -- even a major -- is a forgone conclusion before the leader hits his opening tee shot on Sunday. But this week is different. It is like the opening round of the NCAA Tournament with more upsets and no play-in game. I think the same guys who came up with the play-in game are in charge of the BCS.

For all the similarities with the NCAA Tournament, the Accenture Match Play Championship might be more entertaining. OK, so you can probably get a room in Vegas this weekend, unlike during March Madness. But in many ways there are more surprises on this particular Wednesday. Take last year, when Bradley Dredge upset Ernie Els in the first round two days before Nick O'Hern sent the game's No. 1 player, Tiger Woods, packing in the third round.

So why is it that when George Mason is making an unlikely run through the NCAA Tournament we watch and cheer? What is it about the underdog that makes us pull for them in some sports and not in others?

One theory suggests it's because it is a rarity that we get the opportunity to see the best players in the world go head-to-head. So when the opportunity presents itself and a Dredge or an O'Hern gets in the way we feel slighted. Certainly everyone would love to see a Tiger-Phil match-up this week but history tells us that is unlikely.

Everyone agrees that any player on TOUR can shoot 63 on any given day. In match play, though, you never know if you are going to be in a gun battle or a pillow fight. Toru Taniguchi, the 40-year-old Japanese champion who is ranked 28th in the world, found himself in a serious artillery deficit when Woody Austin birdied the first four holes and then two more on the front nine. Woody dispatched Toru 6 and 5 in a match that really wasn't even that close.

By contrast, Robert Karlsson played a nearly flawless round -- making seven birdies and no bogeys -- but it wasn't enough. Paul Casey closed him out with his ninth birdie on the 18th hole. Jim Furyk wasn't 7 under but he will join Karlsson as one of the losers on opening day. What's interesting about that match is that he was a No. 2 seed beaten by No. 15 Colin Montgomerie. Usually when that happens, it's an upset but when that 15 seed has won eight European Order of Merits it is hard to consider him a true darkhorse.

Jonathan Byrd, seeded 16th, hammered Els, a No. 1 seed, in a completely one-sided affair. Byrd won several holes with pars against Ernie, who nearly didn't make the trip to the Accenture Match Play Championship this week after a string of first-round exits over the last three years. A couple of weeks ago he announced on his website that he would not be in the field. You have to wonder if he wishes now that he had stuck to the original plan.

The most compelling match of the day was easily the one between J.B. Holmes and Tiger. If there is a comparison to upsets in the NCAA Tournament this match would have to be it. J.B. took on the role of the Patriot League champions facing the ACC champ. Well, that would be, if the Patriot League had a team that scored over 100 points a game. But in typical Tiger fashion he came roaring back from 3 down with five to go. Tiger would birdie the next three holes then make a dramatic eagle putt on No. 17 that gave him the inevitable 1-up advantage.

By day's end, three of the four No. 1 seeds managed to advance -- but not in convincing fashion. Steve Stricker needed 20 holes to beat Daniel Chopra in a rematch of the playoff at the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Phil Mickelson slipped past Pat Perez with an up-and-down par at the final hole.

Wednesday of the Accenture Match Play Championship was laden with storylines and high drama. There were upsets, routs and comebacks. Match play seems to bring the most entertaining aspects of the game. Entertaining for everyone except for the 32 guys who packed their bags and went home on Wednesday night, that is.