Round 1 Capsules: Accenture Match-Play Championship

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents

Match No. 1
Sergio Garcia (3) vs. John Senden (14)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee Time: 9:50 a.m. ET
What to watch for: The edge in this match goes with Garcia, who is playing in his sixth Accenture Match Play Championship, while Senden is making his debut. The Spaniard has reached the third round twice and he's got a 7-6 record overall. Garcia also has experience in four Ryder Cups to fall back on, although his 1-3 record in Singles is less than stellar.

Match No. 2
Martin Kaymer (6) vs. Boo Weekley (11)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee Time: 9:59 a.m. ET
What to watch for: This pits two Accenture Match Play Championship rookies, and it should be a good one. Both are playing well -- Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi Championship last month while Weekley has a pair of top-10s in four starts this year. Weekley and Kaymer got a taste of match play at the World Cup last fall. Weekley and his high school teammate Heath Slocum lost in a four-hole playoff while Kaymer and Alex Cejka tied for sixth.

Match No. 3
Padraig Harrington (3) vs. Jerry Kelly (14)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 10:08 a.m. ET
What to watch for: Harrington may be the favorite, but Kelly isn't the type of player to back down. In fact, he's reached the quarterfinals two of the four times he's played. That said, so has the more experienced Harrington, and the Irishman enters in better form after a tie for third last week at the Northern Trust Open. Kelly, who was third at the Sony Open, hasn't made a cut in his last three starts.

Match No. 4
Stewart Cink (6) vs. Miguel Angel Jimenez (11)
Tee time: 10:17 a.m. ET
Bracket: Sam Snead
What to watch for: These two are well-acquainted with the format. Cink has played in eight Accenture Match Play Championships and Jimenez six -- and both have reached the quarterfinals. Cink probably comes to Arizona playing better after a tie for third at the Buick Invitational. Jimenez won the UBS Hong Kong Open in November, but he hasn't finished higher than 43rd in three starts since the first of the year.

Match No. 5
K.J. Choi (3) vs. Camilo Villegas (14)
Tee time: 10:26 a.m. ET
Bracket: Bobby Jones
What to watch for: Choi's record at the Accenture Match Play Championship isn't stellar -- he's never gotten past the second round --- but he's already got a win under his belt in 2008 and he tied for seventh last week after leading the first round. Villegas is making his debut but he's not a match play rookie. He's played in the World Cup, as well as reaching the third round of the 2001 U.S. Amateur.

Match No. 6
Ian Poulter (6) vs. Soren Hansen (11)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 10:35 a.m. ET
What to watch for: These matches often produce mild upsets, but Poulter should be in control in this one. He reached the quarterfinals in 2004 and took Retief Goosen to 20 holes the following year in the consolation finals. The confident Englishman has an 8-5 record overall while Hansen is playing in his first Accenture Match Play Championship.

Match No. 7
Vijay Singh (3) vs. Peter Hanson (14)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 10:44 a.m. ET
What to watch for: Considering his world ranking over the years, Singh has not had a lot of success at the Accenture Match Play Championship. He's played in eight, and he's only won two matches once, losing to Padraig Harrington in the third round in 2006. Still, he's got the edge over Hanson, who has never played in a World Golf Championships event.

Match No. 8
Niclas Fasth (6) vs. Richard Green (11)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 10:53 a.m. ET
What to watch for: This match is probably a toss-up. Fasth has had a little more success -- reaching the third round twice in five starts while Green has lost his opener three times. On form, Fasth can draw confidence from that tie for 10th at the Dubai Desert Classic while Green tied for 17th, 60th and withdrew in his last three starts.

Match No. 9
Adam Scott (2) vs. Brendan Jones (15)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee time: 11:02 a.m. ET
What to watch for: With Jones making his first start in a World Golf Championships and Scott owning a 12-6 record, this is a mismatch on paper. Not to mention, Scott won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters last month.

Match No. 10
Toru Taniguchi (7) vs. Woody Austin (10)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee time: 11:11 a.m. ET
What to watch for: Taniguchi was the surprise of 2001 in Australia when he lost in the semifinals to the eventual champ, Steve Stricker, and then beat Ernie Els in the consolation. He hasn't played in the Accenture Match Play Championship since 2002, though, while Austin is making his debut. Look for the American who cut his match play teeth at The Presidents Cup last fall to pull the mild upset.

Match No. 11
Jim Furyk (2) vs. Colin Montgomerie (15)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 11:20 a.m. ET
What to watch for: This potential Ryder Cup preview could be one of the best matches of the day. While it looks like a mismatch due to the disparity in the seeds, this should be a close one. Forget that Furyk's record Accenture Match Play Championship record is 7-7 while Montgomerie is 5-7. The two have a lot of pride.

Match No. 12
Stephen Ames (7) vs. Charles Howell (10)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 11:29 a.m. ET
What to watch for: Ames will always be remembered for that 9-and-8 drubbing he absorbed at the hands of Tiger Woods in 2006. Few remember, though, that he came back the following year and reached the quarterfinals. Ames already has got two top-10s this year, too. Howell's been steady in 2008 but the Canadian should have the edge.

Match No. 13
Rory Sabbatini (2) vs. Bradley Dredge (15)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 11:38 a.m. ET
What to watch for: Sabbatini has cooled off a bit after a hot start, but he still looks like the winner in this one. He finished second at the Sony Open in Hawaii and tied for third at the Buick Invitational. Dredge, who played on the winning team at the 2005 World Cup, is 1-1 at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Match No. 14
Paul Casey (7) vs. Robert Karlsson (10)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 11:47 a.m. ET
What to watch for: This should be a close one. Karlsson has lost both his first round matches, but he comes to Arizona with two top-20 finishes in his last three starts. Casey missed the cut in both his forays in the Middle East but tied for 22nd last week at the Northern Trust Open. He also reached the quarterfinals here last year.

Match No. 15
Justin Rose (7) vs. Rod Pampling (10)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 11:56 a.m. ET
What to watch for: Rose had a good run last year, reaching the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Trevor Immelman. Pampling, on the other hand, is 1-3. Neither player comes into this year's renewal playing particularly well, so this will be survival of the fittest.

Match No. 16
Scott Verplank (7) vs. Nick O'Hern (10)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 12:05 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Here's another one worth watching. O'Hern is the giant-killer, having twice taken down the game's No. 1 player, Tiger Woods, at this event. He's reached the quarterfinals three times in four starts, including last year, and his record of 10-5 overall. Verplank doesn't have the same kind of record at 4-8 overall in eight appearances, but he has the kind of heart that could make things interesting.

Match No. 17
Henrik Stenson (4) vs. Robert Allenby (13)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee time: 12:14 p.m. ET
What to watch for: The defending champion returns to the Gallery at Dove Mountain playing well with two runner-up finishes and a tie for sixth in his last three starts. Allenby, though, is coming off a tie for seventh at the Northern Trust Open last week, and he has an 8-7 record in this event. So look for this one to be close.

Match No. 18
Trevor Immelman (5) vs. Shingo Katayama (12)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee time: 12:23 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Immelman lost to the eventual champ Henrik Stenson in the semifinals last year, then beat Chad Campbell in the consolation. The talented South African is looking to get back on track after surgery in December to remove a non-malignant tumor from his diaphragm. The good memories here could be just what the doctor ordered.

Match No. 19
Angel Cabrera (4) vs. Anders Hansen (13)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 12:32 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Neither player has distinguished himself at the Accenture Match Play Championship with Cabrera owning a 3-6 record in six appearances and Hansen losing his only match back in 2003. The Argentine's length should be an asset at Dove Mountain, though, and set him up for some much-needed birdies

Match No. 20
Luke Donald (5) vs. Nick Dougherty (12)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 12:41 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Expect this one to go in Donald's favor. He has a respectable 5-3 record in this event after reaching the third round the first two times he played. Donald's playing well, too, after tying for third at the Northern Trust Open last week and posting two top-25s on the European Tour. Dougherty is making his Accenture Match Play Championship debut and missed the cut in his last start.

Match No. 21
Zach Johnson (4) vs. David Toms (13)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 12:50 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Here's another one to watch on opening day. Two players with similar games and similar records should put on a show. Toms has played in eight Accenture Match Play Championships and reached the finals twice -- beating Chris DiMarco in 2005 and losing to Tiger Woods in 2003. His 22-7 record trumps Johnson's 5-3 mark, but the reigning Masters champ has only played in three of these events and he reached the consolation match in 2006.

Match No. 22
Aaron Baddeley (5) vs. Mark Calcavecchia (12)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 12:59 p.m. ET
What to watch for: This match should be closer than the seeds would indicate. Calcavecchia is 4-4 at the Accenture Match Play Championship, but he enters the event with a pair of top-20 finishes on the PGA TOUR. Baddeley went 2-1 in his debut last year, but 2008 has been a mixed bag with ties for 12th, 13th and 46th sandwiched around a paid of missed cuts.

Match No. 23
Geoff Ogilvy (4) vs. Justin Leonard (13)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 1:08 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Ogilvy has to hope that good vibes can conjure up some good play in this match. He has an 11-1 record at the Accenture Match Play Championship after winning in 2007 and losing to Henrik Stenson in the finale last year. He comes to Dove Mountain on the heels of three straight missed cuts. Leonard, on the other hand, has a 5-8 record in eight appearances, but he's playing very well with three top-10s in stroke play events this year.

Match No. 24
Lee Westwood (5) vs. Brandt Snedeker (12)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 1:17 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Westwood has the experience -- and the form -- in this group. He's played in seven Accenture Match Play Championships and owns a 3-7 record while Snedeker is making his debut. The Englishman's last three starts on the European Tour have yielded a tie for second, solo fifth and a share of 10th. Snedeker is coming off a missed cut at the Northern Trust Open, but he's also got a pair of top-10s in six starts this season.

Match No. 25
Ernie Els (1) vs. Jonathan Byrd (16)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee time: 1:26 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Ernie Els wasn't planning to play in the Accenture Match Play Championship until last week but not that he's made the trip to Arizona, he'd like to stick around. Even he'll admit his record isn't stellar. Els has had one good run, when the tournament was played in Australia, but has lost in the first round in his last three starts and four times in seven appearances overall. Byrd is making his debut and brings with him confidence from two top-15 finishes in stroke play events this year.

Match No. 26
Retief Goosen (8) vs. Andres Romero (9)
Bracket: Ben Hogan
Tee time: 1:35 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Goosen played at the Northern Trust Open last week after having a LASIK surgery correction. He didn't fare particularly well, missing the cut with rounds of 79 and 77, but the quiet South African is one of the consummate match player practitioners with a 12-8 record. Romero is an up-and-comer but he hasn't made a cut on TOUR this year. Look for Goosen to advance.

Match No. 27
Steve Stricker (1) vs. Daniel Chopra (16)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 1:44 p.m. ET
What to watch for: This is an intriguing rematch. Chopra won his second PGA TOUR event at the Mercedes-Benz Championship earlier this year -- beating none other than Stricker in a playoff. Since that event, though, Stricker has posted a tie for fourth and a tie for 11th while Chopra's best finish was joint 32nd. Stricker, who won the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2001, should have the edge this time.

Match No. 28
Richard Sterne (8) vs. Hunter Mahan (9)
Bracket: Sam Snead
Tee time: 1:53 p.m. ET
What to watch for: This one should be a toss-up between the two Accenture Match Play Championship rookies. Sterne has five European Tour victories, including the 2008 Joburg Open. Mahan tied for fifth in his PGA TOUR season opener this year, but hasn't finished higher than 29th since.

Match No. 29
Tiger Woods (1) vs. J.B. Holmes (16)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 2:02 p.m. ET
What to watch for: With the big-hitting Holmes, this could be a fun match to watch. And we all know that Woods isn't invincible in the first round -- just ask Peter O'Malley, who took him down in 2002. Still, Woods enters the tournament on the heels of a win at the Buick Invitational -- his fourth straight on TOUR dating back to last year -- and in Dubai. Holmes won the FBR Open and tied for seventh last week, but Woods should prevail.

Match No. 30
Mike Weir (8) vs. Arron Oberholser (9)
Bracket: Bobby Jones
Tee time: 2:11 p.m. ET
What to watch for: The win over Tiger Woods at The Presidents Cup last year did wonders for Weir, who was fourth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship and tied for 14th at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am earlier this year. Oberholser has battled bursitis in his right shoulder of late and had surgery on his left hamate bone in October. He hasn't played since the Fry's Electronics Open last year but will make his 2008 debut on Wednesday.

Match No. 31
Phil Mickelson (1) vs. Pat Perez (16)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 2:20 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Mickelson has played in the Accenture Match Play Championship eight times and has compiled a 12-8 record. He's yet to get past the third round, but this could be the year. Mickelson is on top of his game. He won the Northern Trust Open last week, lost in a playoff at the FBR Open and tied for sixth at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Perez is making his World Golf Championships debut.

Match No. 32
Stuart Appleby (8) vs. Tim Clark (9)
Bracket: Gary Player
Tee time: 2:29 p.m. ET
What to watch for: Neither player has a winning record at the Accenture Match Play Championship -- Appleby's is 4-9 and Clark's is 1-4. Based on their performances in 2008 so far, though, Appleby should have the edge. He's got three top-10s in as many starts while Clark has missed three cuts.