As usual, expect some upsets early in Match Play

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Brendan Jones drew Tiger Woods in the first round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- One of the most exciting, most fun, most thrilling and most head-scratching weeks on the PGA TOUR schedule is upon us -- the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

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As if the TOUR's lone match-play event wasn't enough to get your taste buds watering, there was last Thursday's huge shot of adrenaline to the golf world when Tiger Woods announced he'd be teeing it up for the first time since his epic win over Rocco Mediate in a 90-hole marathon in last June's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Are you energized like the bunny now?

What makes match play so intriguing is that it's the one week each season where the top 64 players in the Official World Golf Ranking square off mano-a-mano. Rather than trying to conquer the course they're playing, players are trying to conquer each other one match at a time.

There's the potential for upset city, baby!

With that in mind, here's a look at five potential bracket busters in the first round:

1. Brendan Jones over Tiger Woods. Sounds preposterous, right? Jones, the little-known No. 64 seed from Australia against arguably the world's most high-profile athletes. Do you believe in miracles? It sure seems like it would take one in order for Jones to send Tiger packing after one round, but...

Woods

Could the name of their bracket -- Bobby "Jones" -- be an omen for Jones? Eh, probably not. However, Australians have given Woods a hard time in match play the way interceptions gave Brett Favre a hard time in big NFL playoff games.

Aussie Peter O'Malley took down Tiger at the 2002 Accenture Match Play Championship as the No. 64 seed in the very first round. Tiger has also been knocked off by Australia's Nick O'Hern -- twice -- in past appearances in this event.

If Tiger is human, there's going to be some rust. But, like his swing coach Hank Haney insisted last week, Tiger isn't simply teeing it up, "just to participate."

Because of Tiger's layoff, this could very well be a huge upset that could instantly make Brendan Jones a Trivial Pursuit question: Who defeated the greatest player in golf history upon his return to the links for the very first time after an eight-month hiatus from knee surgery?

Sure, the smart money is on Woods, as it should be. But don't overlook an opportunistic Jones against a rusty world No. 1.

Mahan

2. Also in the Jones bracket, don't be shocked if No. 12 seeded Hunter Mahan (No. 48 in the world) takes down No. 5 seed Mike Weir (No. 17 in the world). Mahan has progressed tremendously in his four years on TOUR, with two monster moments.

First, there was his scintillating playoff win over Jay Williamson to secure his first TOUR win at the 2007 Travelers Championship. Second, Mahan played an instrumental role in the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup victory at Valhalla to put to an end a long drought for the Americans in the biennial event.

Riding momentum from that Ryder Cup win, along with four steady starts in the 2009 season, expect Mahan to come up big on Wednesday against Weir.

3. Over in the Sam Snead bracket, I like No. 16 Pat Perez (No. 62 in the world) to give No. 1 Padraig Harrington (No. 3 in the world) a serious run for his money.

Perez notched his first win a few weeks back at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer, while three-time major winner Harrington has made the cut just once in three starts in 2009.

Harrington has made it clear that he now gears his game toward four specific tournaments each season -- hate to tell you, Irish fans, but the Accenture Match Play Championship isn't one of those four.

Expect Harrington to be ready. However in terms of the hotter player right now despite the seed, Perez could be following the rainbow to a pot of gold in round 1.

4. My favorite first-round match in the Gary Player bracket pits No. 5 Adam Scott (No. 18 in the world) against No. 12 Sean O'Hair (No. 47 in the world).

It's going to be a battle between two of the more accomplished young guns the TOUR has to offer.

Scott tied for second at the Sony Open in Hawaii, but hasn't started since. O'Hair, meanwhile, hasn't finished worse than a tie for 25th in four starts this year and his best showing was a tie for fourth at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship.

It's not unreasonable to think O'Hair can send Scott home early. And I think he will.

5. Finally, in the Ben Hogan bracket, don't be stunned if No. 13 Soren Hansen of Denmark (No. 52 in the world) plays spoiler in his match against No. 4 Ernie Els (No. 13 in the world).

Hansen has two wins on his European Tour resume and was a member of the 2008 European Ryder Cup team. While Hansen went winless in his Ryder Cup debut, I've got to believe he took something away from the experience.

Els started the year hot with a tie for fourth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, but his game hasn't been as sharp since.

I like Hansen to shake things up early in the Hogan bracket.

T.J. Auclair is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.