Final week for players to qualify for Accenture Match Play

text size

MARANA, Ariz. -- One week remains until the deadline for players to be inside the top 64 in the Official World Golf Ranking and qualify for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, in Marana, Ariz.

Players like Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Camilo Villegas and Vijay Singh are already looking forward to the rare match-play competition from Feb. 23-March 1. Others, like 2001 winner Darren Clarke, 2003 champion David Toms, 2008 PGA TOUR Comeback Player of the Year Dudley Hart, 2007 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Brandt Snedeker and 17-year-old Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa are all in jeopardy of not qualifying for this year's event.

David Toms, currently ranked No. 66 in the world, needs a good finish at this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in order to play in the Accenture Match Play Championship for the 10th consecutive year. The 2005 Accenture Match Play Championship winner has made it through to the second round in each of his nine previous appearances at this event -- the longest stretch without a first-round loss in the tournament's history. Toms also advanced to the championship match in 2003 and has compiled a 23-8 record. After a season in 2008 that uncharacteristically included only one top-10 finish, Toms has started 2009 with three consecutive top-25 finishes, two of which were inside the top 10 -- a tie for second at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a tie for fourth at the FBR Open.

Ishikawa is currently in the hot seat at No. 64 in the world. Ishikawa became the youngest winner on the Japan Tour in May 2007 when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, his first 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. By the close of 2008, he had become the youngest golfer included to break into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He will make his PGA TOUR debut as a sponsor's exemption at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles next week. It could be one week too late if he moves out of the top 64 after this weekend's action.

The good news for players like Toms, Snedeker, D.J. Trahan and even Buick Invitational winner Nick Watney is that several players ranked at or around No. 64 are not playing this week -- opening the door for those who are. Here is a look at players ranked between Nos. 60 and 75 and where they are playing this week.

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).