Golf - WGC Match Play:Chris Wood says he would have relished the chance to face Tiger Woods on his WGC Match Play debut this week. With Phil Mickelson deciding a fortnight ago not to enter Wood knew when the world rankings came out last week that he would be the opponent if Woods launched his eagerly-awaited comeback in the event.
What a media frenzy that would have created after all that has emerged about the now tarnished superstar, but Woods remains holed up somewhere and Wood plays Lee Westwood instead.
The two stablemates, joint third in the British Open last July after both bogeyed the last hole to miss out on the play-off, were on the same British Airways flight yesterday.
“I would have liked to play Tiger,” the English player said today. “It would have been one of the best chances to beat him probably in his first round back. I’ve never met the bloke. I hit balls next to him at the PGA last year, but he probably didn’t even see me.
“I think it would have been a bit intimidating and I would have been apprehensive the first couple of holes, but once into it I’m sure I would have stepped up to it. And what a great opportunity — it could have been one of my finest moments.”
As well as it being his first World Golf Championship it is also only the second tournament Wood has played in the States.
The goal is not just to knock out Westwood, but make further progress and climb into the world’s top 50 for the next World Championship in Miami in three weeks.
But at least he is not also fighting for a place in The Masters in April. He will make his debut there thanks to his performance at Turnberry last summer.
Rory McIlroy, currently eighth in the world, will play American Kevin Na, with the winner meeting either Oliver Wilson or Miguel Angel Jimenez. Pádraig
Harrington faces Jeev Milkha Singh while Graeme McDowell will take on Luke Donald
First round tee-off on Wednesday
(seeded positions in brackets, all times Irish)
2.36pm(12) Robert Allenby (Aus) v (53) Peter Hanson (Swe)
2.45pm(21) Luke Donald (Gbr) v (44) Graeme McDowell(N Irl)
2.55pm(11) Kenny Perry (USA) v (54) Brian Gay (USA)
3.04pm(22) Zach Johnson (USA) v (43) Francesco Molinari (Ita)
3.14pm(9) Ian Poulter (Gbr) v (56) Justin Leonard (USA)
3.23pm(24) Angel Cabrera (Arg) v (41) Adam Scott (Aus)
3.33pm(10) Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) v (55) Alexander Noren (Swe)
3.42pm(23) Camilo Villegas (Col) v (42) Dustin Johnson (USA)
3.52pm(5) Rory McIlroy(N Irl) v (60) Kevin Na (USA)
4.01pm(28) Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) v (37) Oliver Wilson (Gbr)
4.11pm(6) Paul Casey (Gbr) v (59) Stephen Ames (Can)
4.20pm(27) Alvaro Quiros (Spa) v (38) Mike Weir (Can)
4.30pm(8) Padraig Harrington(Irl) v (57) Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind)
4.39pm(25) Anthony Kim (USA) v (40) Matt Kuchar (USA)
4.49pm(7) Henrik Stenson (Swe) v (58) Ben Crane (USA)
4.58pm(26) YE Yang (Kor) v (39) Soren Kjeldsen (Den)
5.08pm(13) Sergio Garcia (Spa) v (52) David Toms (USA)
5.17pm(20) Lucas Glover (USA) v (45) Anders Hansen (Den)
5.27pm(14) Sean O'Hair (USA) v (51) Simon Dyson (Gbr)
5.36pm(19) Stewart Cink (USA) v (46) Edoardo Molinari (Ita)
5.46pm(16) Robert Karlsson (Swe) v (49) Rory Sabbatini (Rsa)
5.55pm(17) Ross Fisher (Gbr) v (48) Thongchai Jaidee (Thai)
6.05pm(15) Ernie Els (Rsa) v (50) Ryan Moore (USA)
6.14pm(18) Retief Goosen (Rsa) v (47) Soren Hansen (Den)
6.24pm(4) Martin Kaymer (Ger) v (61) Chad Campbell (USA)
6.33pm(29) Vijay Singh (Fij) v (36) Tim Clark (Rsa)
6.43pm(3) Jim Furyk (USA) v (62) Scott Verplank (USA)
6.52pm(30) Hunter Mahan (USA) v (35) Charl Schwartzel (Rsa)
7.02pm(1) Steve Stricker (USA) v (64) Ross McGowan (Gbr)
7.11pm(32) Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) v (33) Michael Sim (Aus)
7.21pm(2) Lee Westwood (Gbr) v (63) Chris Wood (Gbr)
7.30pm(31) Nick Watney (USA) v (34) Yuta Ikeda (Jpn)