Golf Events / Editor / 23 February 2007 /

Tiger Woods may be the only one of the top eight seeds still left at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship approaching the weekend, but the world number one is unlikely to have things all his own way in Arizona.

While his nearest challengers Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Ernie Els have all perished in the desert during the first two rounds, Woods has enjoyed a comparatively comfortable ride through to the last sixteen stage.

Awaiting him if he succeeds in making it through to Sunday's final and winning the event for the third time in his career, is an eighth consecutive title on the PGA Tour - which would put him just three behind Byron Nelson's all-time record set in 1947.

But before that happens, Woods must win four more matches and with the likes of two previous Accenture champions, the World Match Play holder, the FedEx Cup leader and a former conqueror of his left in the field, he knows that will be no easy task.

Woods, the number one seed, is still the overwhelming market leader and with Henrik Stenson the only other player left who is ranked in the world's top ten, has shortened even further and is now trading at 2.68 to win.

World Match Play title holder (the Wentworth event) Paul Casey is now second favourite and can be backed at 11.5 to win this weekend ahead of defending champion Geoff Ogilvy (14), former winner David Toms (15), FedEx Cup leader Charles Howell III (17.5) and Stenson (19).

But there is plenty of value to be had further down the market with South African Trevor Immelman available to back at 21 to win his first match play title, Justin Rose - Mickelson's conqueror - trading around four points longer and in-form duo Aaron Baddeley and Ian Poulter available at 32 or better.

This year's Accenture championship has thrown up even more surprises than it usually does but Woods has been untroubled by the big names crashing out around him, easily disposing of JJ Henry and Tim Clark in the first two rounds.

But whether he has the same joy with his next opponent Nick O'Hern is another matter. The Australian famously beat Woods in this event two years ago and will come into the match brimming with confidence, after defeating Lucas Glover and Rory Sabbatini.

Not the longest hitter, O'Hern will be forced to concede massive yardage to the world number one off the tee which could make a big difference, especially on the two driveable par fours and four par fives at Dove Mountain.

But the left-hander is one of the straightest hitters in the world and, importantly, knows what is needed to beat Woods. Woods has not been put under pressure at any stage this week and, in only his third event of 2007, it will be interesting to see how he reacts.

The 12-time major winner is an overwhelming 1.26 favourite to progress to the last eight, but O'Hern's odds of 4.7 look attractive in a two-horse race where the Australian holds a psychological edge.

Awaiting the winner of this tie will be the match between Stenson and Baddeley. The Swede Stenson, the world number eight, has struggled to get going on the front nine this week but has come good on the closing holes - coming back in six-under during his second round victory over KJ Choi.

Stenson is favoured to progress at odds of 1.79 to progress, but Baddeley showed he is in great form by battling back from three down with only a handful of holes left to beat Luke Donald on Thursday.

The Australian, a winner on tour already this season, is playing in his home state this week and could be worth backing at 2.26 to beat Stenson and 7 to reach the last four.

The other two matches in this half of the draw see Howell III take on good friend Rose and Immelman face Poulter.

Howell III's form this season has been sensational, winning once and posting two second places on his way to the top of the standings, and he has continued that this week in defeating Stuart Appleby and Sergio Garcia.

Rose is growing in stature though, with every week he plays and his 3&1 win over Mickelson in the second round will only help that process. Both long off the tee and with similar games, this match looks too close to call, although the market has Howell as the slight favourite.

Immelman, the last man to beat Woods in any tournament in America, believes he is striking the ball the best he has for a long time and is also favoured to go through to the quarter finals at 1.87.

But Poulter has produced a string of birdies in both his victories this week and has a good record in the tournament.

He was unlucky in 2005 to run into an inspired David Toms in the semi-finals, but he is in the opposite side of the draw this year and he will fancy his chances. He is trading at 4.1 to reach the last four.

If anyone questioned that Ogilvy would be a one-season wonder, those doubts have been firmly removed by the Australian's performances this week.

His victories in defeating Steve Stricker and Jose Maria Olazabal, in the match of day two, mean that he has not lost in all eight matches he has played at the WGC event and, while that record may not continue this week, he has already endorsed his reputation.

Ogilvy is making lots of birdies and few errors and Swede Niclas Fasth (the 2.4 outsider in his match) will have to be at his best if he is to prevent Ogilvy from continuing his progress.

Awaiting the winner of this clash will be the match between Casey and Shaun Micheel - a re-match of the 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship.

On that occasion, Casey demolished Micheel to win 10 and 8 and, while he is the deserved favourite at 1.61 going into the tie, it is expected to be a lot closer this time around.

The American is back on home soil and battled back from losing positions in the first two rounds to defeat number four seed Adam Scott and Rod Pampling.

Toms, winner in 2005, has the second best record in the history of the tournament and he again looks in the mood to do well this week.

After easy victories in his first two games, it would be a major surprise if Toms were not to continue his progress at the expense of Chad Campbell and is 1.75 favourite to do just that, although Campbell showed good battling qualities to defeat Furyk in the second round and did beat Woods here last year.

The winner will face either Stewart Cink or Stephen Ames, with Cink just favoured to come out on top.

Cink has been outstanding in the match play format in recent years, most notably at last year's Ryder Cup, but has not needed his best in his first two matches this week.

Ames, on the other hand, beat Vijay Singh in the last round and it would be no surprise if he took his interest in the tournament further at Cink's expense. He is 2.1 to win his match and 4.7 to reach the final four.

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