You might want to consider drafting your 4-year old to pick the brackets in the Accenture Match Play Championship. Your child couldn’t do any worse and, in fact, might do better.
Golf is the ultimate crapshoot. Pick a player, any player. It doesn’t matter.
If anything, go with the lower seed when first-round play begins Wednesday at La Costa. Lower-ranked players won 19 of last year’s 32 first-round matches.
Before Tiger Woods’ victory last year, the tournament never had been won by a player who was a top-10 seed. Match Play has made champions out of Kevin Sutherland and Steve Stricker and losers out of Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III and virtually every other big name.
With that in mind, here’s what passes for handicapping the 64-player field:
The favorite
If there is such a thing. You still have to start with Woods, who is 14-3 in Match Play. He’s coming off a 64 Sunday at the Nissan and is looking to repeat.
The underachievers
Vijay Singh has a score to settle: he never has made it past the second round. Hometown product Phil Mickelson only has advanced to the third round twice. Davis Love III only has a fourth-place finish in 2000 to show for his efforts.
The dark horses
Shigeki Maruyama, who finished second last week at Nissan, is 9-4 in Match Play, advancing to the quarterfinals in 1999 and 2001. Miguel Angel Jimenez reached the quarterfinals in 2000. Owner of an orange Afro, he could become a cult favorite with a run at La Costa. Brad Faxon (9-4 in Match Play) also bears watching.
Overmatched
Stay away from Fred Funk. He’s 0-4 in Match Play. Padraig Harrington will be looking to improve on his 1-4 record. David Toms, second last year, is coming off a wrist injury and likely won’t be a factor.
First-round watch
One of the best days in golf features some interesting match-ups: Mickelson vs. Lee Westwood in a Ryder Cup preview; Nick Price vs. Colin Montgomerie in a battle of aging veterans; and Mike Weir vs. Rich Beem should be entertaining.
Not here
You won’t find John Daly teeing off at La Costa this week. Despite his recent run, he didn’t qualify for Match Play. Instead he’s playing in the Chrysler Classic of Tucson.
Match Play Championship pairings
With Tribune golf reporter Ed Sherman’s picks
Singh 2004 Champion
Source: PGA Tour Communications.
See microfilm for complete graphic.
