WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

Accenture is a global umbrella sponsor of the World Golf Championships and the title sponsor of the series' season-opening event, the Accenture Match Play Championship. The 2009 Accenture Match Play Championship takes place on February 25–March 1, 2009, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona. Catch the action as the top 64 players in the world battle for the Walter Hagen Cup.
This prestigious Accenture Match Play Championship is the cornerstone event of the World Golf Championships, a series of three global golf tournaments that traditionally attracts one of the strongest fields in golf. The match-play format of the Accenture Match Play Championship is unique among the World Golf Championships events and delivers some of the most exciting and compelling golf that fans see all season. The rules of engagement for single-elimination match play are clear and simple: win or go home.
The world’s best golfers will gather for the 11th playing of the World Golf Championships (WGC) - Accenture Match Play Championship February 25 – March 1 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at the new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, outside Tucson, Arizona.
The 64 elite players, as identified by the Official World Golf Ranking, will duel head-to-head in five days of nail-biting, single-elimination competition for a US$1.4 million winner’s share of the US$8.5 million prize purse and the sought-after Walter Hagen Cup, named after golf’s greatest match-play competitor.

Unlike stroke play, which adds up all strokes from multiple days of play to produce a winner, match play is a hole-by-hole format that rigorously tests a golfer’s skill, strategy and nerves. The world-class players competing must bring their best games and perform at their highest levels for five consecutive days to have a chance of winning the Accenture Match Play Championship.
The Championship is further distinguished by four 16-player brackets that were added in 2003. The 64 players are divided into four brackets of 16 players, each named in honor of one of golf’s greatest players: Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Gary Player and Sam Snead. Players in each of the brackets are seeded No. 1 through No. 16, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 16 seed in the first round, No. 2 pairing off with No. 15, No. 3 meeting No. 14 and so forth.
All matches leading up to the final match are 18 holes, while the final match is 36 holes. In addition, the losers of the semifinal matches play an 18-hole consolation match for third place. The five-day, six-round tournament begins on Wednesday, with a round per day through Friday. The quarterfinals and semifinals are played on Saturday; the finals and third-place match conclude the tournament on Sunday.

By the way, Tiger is ready to defend his 2008 title. He will definitely make other golfers run for their money. The only person will surely smile are the sponsorship companies!!!!