Unless there is a late withdrawal from the elite field, newcomer Padraig Harrington will meet fellow European Jesper Parnevik in the first round of the $5 million Andersen Consulting World Matchplay Championship in San Diego next week. Darren Clarke faces Paul Azinger, who regained the winning touch in the Sony Open in Hawaii last month.

Main international interest, however, is certain to focus on the clash of Tiger Woods and Michael Campbell, currently the two hottest players in golf. Campbell had his fourth victory in as many months when capturing the Australian Masters last Sunday, while Woods's standing will not have been damaged by the end of his so-called streak in the Buick Invitational.

It was fascinating to note the reaction of the world number one in two interviews with Peter Kostis of CBS. When Kostis asked him about the streak after his victory at Pebble Beach, Woods side-stepped the issue by talking about the improvement in his game. And when Kostis asked him on Sunday night whether he would now be starting another streak, he responded: "It would be nice if I could get my swing fixed."

The inescapable conclusion was that Woods had no real interest in a contrived sequence which spanned two seasons and was essentially a media invention. As a keen student of the game, he would be aware that Byron Nelson's 11-in-a-row was achieved in the same, 1945 season, which is how it should be.

Unlike Torrey Pines, Woods will not be defending champion next weekend when he competes in the Nissan Open at Riviera CC, where Clarke and Lee Westwood are among the European challengers. Interestingly, Woods has never successfully defended a title, despite his dominance of recent seasons.

As to whether he could win six tournaments in a genuine sequence, he replied: "Yes. I think it can be done again." He went on: "I actually feel more confident than I did at the beginning of the week because of how I played. I hit it poorly at times and just to scramble around and hang in there and give myself a chance to win, made me proud of myself.

For Mickelson, a 14th US Tour victory was especially welcome, given his collapse to a final nine of 40 when leading the Phoenix Open two weeks ago. "To go against the best player in the world and come out on top means a lot," he said. "But next time I get a six or seven-shot lead, I will be aiming to make it double figures."

Meanwhile, Campbell's win in Australia lifted him to 65th in the world rankings and, although next week's event is restricted to the game's top 64, Japan's Jumbo Ozaki has already informed organisers that, like last year, he will not be playing. It means that barring further withdrawals, the world number one will face the runaway leader of both the European and Australasian money lists.

The draw is automatic, based on world rankings. And it is interesting to recall that only two years ago, Campbell had fallen outside the world's leading 350 and had lost his European tour card. But the Maori, whose career has been closely observed since he finished third to John Daly in the 1995 Open at St Andrews, is now realising the potential which was predicted for him.

When he and Woods met in strokeplay in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan in November, he won and the American was sixth. Harrington and Clarke are among 11 Europeans going into the official draw on Monday next. And another fascinating pairing is that of Ernie Els and twice US Masters champion Bernhard Langer.

In last year's inaugural event, also played at La Costa near San Diego, Clarke lost in the first round to American Andrew Magee, who eventually became a surprise opponent for Jeff Maggert in the final. Indeed Maggert created his own share of surprises, outscoring Woods on the par-fives in a quarter-final victory before capturing the title.

First round matches will be played on Wednesday and the only planned change in the format this year is that instead of having the third round and quarter-finals on the Friday, the quarter-finals and semi-finals will both be staged on Saturday.

Christy O'Connor Jnr shot a two under par aggregate of 212 to share 27th place behind Lanny Wadkins in the Ace Group Classic last Sunday. It brought O'Connor's earnings from three US Seniors' tournaments this season to $40,347 which leaves him 29th in the money list.