WGC-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

It's here. If you like match play this week is for you. The 2008 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship begins Wednesday at the Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Tucson, AZ. How would you like to be answering the phone at that course? You'd need oxygen. Their website makes it look like another course I won't be teeing it up at unless I go back to being a gigolo. Henrik Stenson defends. I'd send old Henrik money if he'd crack just one smile. Last year Tiger Woods was unceremoniously evicted by Nick O'Hern.

I love the "one and done" aspect to this tournament. It's the closest thing golf has to March Madness. It makes it worth watching from day one. If you're like me you're rooting for first round upsets.

With all that in mind, let's make some first round prognostications.......

JONES BRACKET

Woods (1) vs Holmes (64) Woods. Pulling for J.B., but Woods.
Weir (32) vs Oberholser (33) Weir, Oberholser's been hurt.
Z. Johnson (16) vs Toms (49) Not really an upset, Toms.
Baddeley (17) vs Calcavecchia (48) USA! USA!, Calc.
Sabbatini (8) vs Dredge (57) Rory's been en fuego, Rory.
Casey (25) vs Karlsson (40) Casey. Don't know why.
Choi (9) vs Villegas (56) Choi, hot and experience factor.
Poulter (24) vs Hansen (41) Hansen. Poulter too inconsistent.

HOGAN BRACKET

Els (4) vs Byrd (61) Takes Ernie and hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes. Els.
Goosen (29) vs Romero (36) Something wrong with Goose. Romero.
Stenson (13) vs Allenby (52) Mismatch. Stenson.
Immelman (20) vs Katayama (45) Tempted, but....Immelman.
Scott (5) vs Jones (60) 2 Aussies. Bloodbath, Scott.
Taniguchi (28) vs Austin (37) Have to take Woody. Obviously.
Garcia (12) vs Senden (53) If this was the Ryder Cup he'd win it all. Garcia.
Kaymer (21) vs Weekley (44) Hot Euro takes down Boo. Hoo.

SNEAD BRACKET

Stricker (3) vs Chopra (62) Strick's ranking too high, Chopra, too low. Upset, Chopra.
Sterne (30) vs Mahan (35) Never heard of Sterne. Mahan's my pick.
Cabrera (14) vs Hansen (51) Cabrera. Gunslingers can be great in match play.
Donald (19) vs Dougherty (46) Tough one. Donald I guess.
Furyk (6) vs Montgomerie (59) Mrs. Doubtfire great in match play, but I like Furyk.
Ames (27) vs Howell III (38) Chucky Three Sticks prevails.
Harrington (11) vs Kelly (54) Padraig hasn't been great lately, but takes this one.
Cink (22) vs Jimenez (43) Could be interesting. Cink though.

PLAYER BRACKET

Mickelson (2) vs Perez (63) Perez whined when he thought he drew Tiger. Phil.
Appleby (31) vs Clark (34) Clark's been a bit off. Appleby.
Ogilvy (15) vs Leonard (50) Leonard better than ranking. Close match, Ogilvy.
Westwood (18) vs Snedeker (47) Experience takes this one. Westwood.
Rose (7) vs Pampling (58) Pampling's tough, but I see Rose winning a Major and this one.
Verplank (26) vs O'Hern (39) O'Hern, Tiger killer from last year.
Singh (10) vs Hanson (55) Vijay takes this one, but loses in 2nd round.
Fasth (23) vs Green (42) Coin flip for me. Go with ranking, Fasth.

On Wednesday after the first round you can all post comments reminding me what a moron I am and I have no business writing about anything to do with golf. We'll check in for second round picks. Half the guys, less typing!

Til' next,