MARANA, Arizona - World No.1 Rory McIlroy and three-time winner Tiger Woods top the list of favourites in the $US8.75 million World Golf Championships Match Play Championship that begins on Wednesday.
Woods, the 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, comes off a practice round last weekend with US President Barack Obama and a victory last month at Torrey Pines on his 2013 US PGA debut.
McIlroy, who lost last year's Match Play final to American Hunter Mahan, missed the cut at Dubai in his only prior start this year.
The Northern Irishman opens against Irishman Shane Lowry in a Bobby Jones bracket that also has a first-round matchup between Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington, both past major winners.