Feb. 21, 2011
By PGATOUR.COM staff
The brackets for this year's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship are now available. PGATOUR.COM is breaking down each of the brackets:
MORE PREVIEWS: Snead bracket | Player bracket | Hogan bracket | FIELD STUDY: All 64 players
DOWNLOAD A BRACKET: Click here for printable bracket (.pdf)
| Jones preview |
| DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: 5 (out of 10) |
| Yes, the No. 1 player in the world, Lee Westwood, headlines this bracket but he has never advanced past the second round in 10 appearances. Not to mention, there are three players making their Accenture Match Play debuts and another five who have only played in one. Charl Schwartzel, already a winner on the European Tour this year, could be a factor, though, and former Accenture Match Play Championship winners Henrik Stenson and Steve Stricker will be tough which ups the degree of difficulty a bit. |
|
| BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCH: Lee Westwood vs. Henrik Stenson |
| There are several intriguing ones -- take the 44-year-old Steve Stricker vs. teen sensation Matteo Manassero, for example -- but let's go for the potential upset. Westwood has never played well in the desert and while Stenson has been up-and-down of late, he does have a win and third-place finish at Dove Mountain. Stenson, who was a late addition to the field when Toru Taniguchi withdrew, just might send Westwood packing after one match for what would be the fifth time. |
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| POTENTIAL SECOND-ROUND MATCH: Steve Stricker vs. Charl Schwartzel |
| This is a match that could have Presidents Cup implications down the line, but first things first. Schwartzel, who is making his debut as a PGA TOUR member this week, could contend. In three starts overseas this year, he has one win and hasn't finished lower than eighth. He should make short work of his first-round opponent, Ryo Ishikawa, who shot 7 over at Riviera last week. Stricker appears to be getting over the jet lag from his trip to the Middle East and figures to dispose of Italian teenager, Matteo Manessero, who has never played in a World Golf Championships. Schwartzel will be a good test for the 2001 Accenture Match Play Championship winner, who had top-10s in his first two starts of the season. |
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| GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES |
| Two of the game's steadiest players, Luke Donald and Steve Stricker, could meet in the third round. And while this would be a long-shot, what if the brothers from Italy, Francesco and Edoardo Molinari were to reach the bracket final? |
|
| BEST DOUBLE DIGIT-SEEDED SLEEPER |
| K.J. Choi has plenty of match play experience after two appearances in the Presidents Cup and seven at the Accenture Match Play Championship. At No. 13, he could be a steal. |
|
| Jones seeds |
| 1 |
 |
Lee
WESTWOOD |
Ten starts here and the Englishman never gotten past the second round |
| 2 |
 |
Steve
STRICKER |
Since winning in 2002, his Match Play record is an unimpressive 3-5 |
| 3 |
 |
Luke
DONALD |
Has never lost in first round; has never won in third round |
| 4 |
 |
Retief
GOOSEN |
Inconsistent in this event but did reach the quarterfinals last year |
| 5 |
 |
Francesco
MOLINARI |
Will his mind be on golf after recent birth of first child? |
| 6 |
 |
Edoardo
MOLINARI |
The older Molinari halved Ryder Cup singles match with Fowler |
| 7 |
 |
Charl
SCHWARTZEL |
The South African knocked out two Americans (Mahan, Furyk) last year |
| 8 |
 |
Nick
WATNEY |
Will he get the chance to knock out Westwood again in second round? |
| 9 |
 |
Anthony
KIM |
Just a 1-2 record in his first two Match Play starts |
| 10 |
 |
Ryo
ISHIKAWA |
The Japanese teenager made nice run to third round last year |
| 11 |
 |
Martin
LAIRD |
A Match Play rookie who may have Ryder Cup aspirations one day |
| 12 |
 |
Ryan
MOORE |
Suffered from the flu at Bob Hope and a 79 in final round at Phoenix |
| 13 |
 |
K.J.
CHOI |
Didn't play in Match Play last year for first time since 2002 |
| 14 |
 |
Charley
HOFFMAN |
Like Palmer, he's another TOUR winner making his Match Play debut |
| 15 |
 |
Matteo
MANASSERO |
Yet to turn 18, the Italian teenager already has one European Tour win |
| 16 |
 |
Henrik
STENSON |
The 2007 champ is back, replacing injured Tori Taniguchi |
|
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