Tiger Woods will face fellow American Shaun Micheel in the first round of the World Match Play Championship which starts on Thursday at Wentworth.
Woods, who lost in the final to his close friend Mark O'Meara in his only previous appearance at Wentworth in 1998, is bidding to extend his spectacular winning streak to six tournaments.
If the world number one beats 2003 US PGA champion Micheel, he will meet England's Luke Donald or Tim Clark of South Africa in the quarter-finals.
New Zealand's Michael Campbell begins the defence of his title against England's Simon Khan.
South African Ernie Els starts his quest for a record seventh World Match Play trophy by taking on big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera.
Eight times European number one Colin Montgomerie is involved in an all-British clash with David Howell, the order of merit leader.
The elite 16-man field will be chasing the richest first prize in golf, £1 million.
"The World Match Play is in its 43rd year and has a great history with some awesome winners," said Woods earlier this season.
The 30-year-old American is competing in Britain and Ireland for three successive weeks.
The Match Play is followed by the Ryder Cup at County Kildare in Ireland and the WGC-American Express Championship at the Grove course in Hertfordshire from September 28th-Octover 1st.
"With the Ryder Cup set for the following week, the 36-hole match play format at Wentworth will be good preparation and we will all be looking for some confidence-boosting wins," added Woods.
Draw for 36-hole matches
(prefix number denotes seedings)
7.36am & 12.06pm: 1-Michael Campbell (New Zealand) v 16-Simon Khan (Britain)
7.48am & 12.18pm: 8-David Howell (England) v 9-Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)
8.00am & 12.30pm: 5-Retief Goosen (South Africa) v 12-Paul Casey (England)
8.12am & 12.42pm: 4-Adam Scott (Australia) v 13-Mike Weir (Canada)
8.24am & 12.54pm: 3-Jim Furyk (US) v 14-Robert Karlsson (Sweden)
8.36am & 1.06pm: 6-Ernie Els (South Africa) v 11-Angel Cabrera (Argentina)
8.48am & 1.18pm: 7-Luke Donald (England) v 10-Tim Clark (South Africa)
9.00am & 1.30pm: 2-Tiger Woods (US) v 15-Shaun Micheel (US)
