Field rapidly taking shape for WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

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With the PGA TOUR and European Tour seasons well underway, winners on both tours are now inside the top 64 in the Official World Golf Ranking and are currently qualified for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, in Marana, Ariz., February 23-March 1.

Quiros

Zach Johnson (Sony Open in Hawaii), Pat Perez (the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer), Paul Casey (Abu Dhabi Golf Championship) and Alvaro Quiros (Commercialbank Qatar Masters) are among those planning a trip to the desert for this unique, match-play event.

With his victory at the second event of the 2009 PGA TOUR season, Johnson earned his fifth win on the PGA TOUR in 141 career starts. The 2007 Masters Champion now has at least one victory in each of the last three seasons. Johnson made it to the semifinals of the 2006 Accenture Match Play Championship where he lost to Davis Love III, 4 and 2. He defeated Tom Lehman that year in the consolation match to finish third, which was the only time in four appearances that the 32 year old has made it past the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Johnson was No. 46 in the world at the end of 2008 and is now No. 27, thanks to his win in Hawaii.

This week, Perez moved up 31 places to No. 59 in the world with his victory at the 50th Bob Hope Classic presented by Arnold Palmer, the first win of his PGA TOUR career. Perez, who lives in nearby Scottsdale, made his first appearance at the Accenture Match Play Championship last year and nearly pulled off an incredible upset as the No. 63 seed over No. 2 seed Phil Mickelson. The two were all square following the 15th hole, but Mickelson went on to win 1-up as Perez just missed a birdie put on No. 18 that would have sent the match to extra holes.

Perez

"Zach Johnson and Pat Perez are both great champions and are obviously playing well," said Executive Director Wade Dunagan. "Pat showed last year that he can go toe-to-toe with the on of the game's best players. Both he and Zach will be great additions to the field."

It was Quiros who finished atop the leaderboard at the European Tour's Commercialbank Qatar Masters yesterday, a tournament that boasted one of the strongest fields ever for a regular European Tour event. The 26-year-old Spaniard outlasted the likes of Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Boo Weekley and improved his position in the Official World Golf Ranking from No. 74 last week to No. 28 today.

"The most important thing is that I have qualified for the (Accenture) Match Play Championship. It is the first World Golf Championships event I am going to play and it is going to be very important for me," Quiros said following his victory, his third career win on the European Tour.

England's Paul Casey does not have to worry about qualifying for this year's Accenture Match Play Championship, but his win at the European Tour's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship boosted his World Ranking to No. 23 (up from No. 41 at the end of 2008). This victory was his ninth career win on the European Tour, making Casey the fifth most successful English player in European Tour history. Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood, Mark James and Howard Clark have won more events.

Of those hoping to qualify for the Accenture Match Play Championship, most notable is 17-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. Ishikawa, ranked No. 63 in the world, became the youngest winner on the Japan Tour in May 2007 when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, his first ever event on the Japan Tour, at 15 years 8 months.

Last year, he won the Mynavi ABC Championship and in the process has captured the attention of most of Japan. Ishikawa, who is already slated to play in four PGA TOUR events this year via sponsor exemptions, is hoping to cling his position in the Official World Golf Ranking to stay in the field.

The top 64 available players from the Official World Golf Ranking released on Monday, February 16, will qualify for this year's event as the tournament returns to Arizona for the third year, but this time at a new golf course. With the 2009 PGA TOUR and European Tour season both under way, players on the bubble will need to fair well early in the year to qualify for this prestigious match-play event. Tiger Woods won the 2008 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship for his 15th victory at a World Golf Championships event.

Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.worldgolfchampionships.com or by calling 1-866-WGC-AMPC (1-866-942-2672).