Confirmation was being awaited today that Thomas Bjorn has become the second European to withdraw from this week’s Accenture world match play championship in San Diego.

Sergio Garcia, Europe’s only player in the world’s top 10, pulled out two weeks ago, letting Co Antrim's Graeme McDowell into the 64-man field.

McDowell was set to play world number one Tiger Woods in Wednesday’s first round as a result, but if Bjorn -  or indeed anyone else - scratches before 5pm California time today the draw will be revised.

McDowell, who missed the cut at the Nissan Open, will almost certainly need to reach the semi-finals in in San Diego to qualify for The Masters and avoiding Woods in the first round could provide a welcome boost for a player short on form.

However, he will could still McDowell face world number two Vijay Singh if Garcia and Bjorn are the only two absentees.

There were rumours at the Nissan Open in Los Angeles, won by Rory Sabbatini last night, that Retief Goosen might also be missing from the La Costa line-up, but no official announcement to that effect followed.

Bjorn’s last world championship appearance in San Francisco last October ended with him in hospital after he suffered the recurrence of a virus that kept him out for a month.

Meanwhile, Sabbatini has spoken out about heckling after grabbing the win which takes him top of the American golf tour.

The 29-year-old South African, known for not hiding his feelings, said after his one-shot victory: "There were a lot of very snide remarks. It’s sad when you have that situation. I’m an avid believer that you don’t wish for somebody else to do bad, but all I can say is that it’s common."

There was one particular comment - he refused to reveal what it was - that really got under Sabbatini’s skin as he battled with popular American Fred Couples.

But he added: "It almost motivated me to go in the crowd. It’s nothing to do with Freddie. He was one of my idols growing up and is one of the nicest guys. But give other guys a chance - don’t be rude."

At the 13th hole Sabbatini thought he had got out of trouble and onto the green when he heard the cheering after his second shot. But after taking out his putter he then discovered that the shouts were for the fact that his ball had rolled down a slope into rough.

"That was the Fred Couples support team," he commented.

Former Masters champion Couples had just drawn level, but a birdie from Sabbatini at the short 16th was the decisive moment in the event.

And with Couples having three bogeys in the last four holes to slip to fourth it was defending champion Adam Scott, round in a brilliant 64, who finished second.

Paul McGinley’s closing 74 left him even further down the field at 51st.

Sabbatini came in for a lot of criticism last June when he protested about the slow play of playing partner Ben Crane by stomping off ahead of him rather than having a quiet word.

He states that most of the comments he received from other players afterwards were supportive but, as Colin Montgomerie can testify, fans can make life uncomfortable if you give them a reason to dislike you.