WGC-Accenture Matchplay: day one report

A first-day round-up from the WGC-Accenture Matchplay at the Ritz-Carlton in Arizona, where show caused a premature end to Wednesday's play

WGC Matchplay

Despite being staged in the Arizona desert, inclement weather forced the suspension of the WGC-Accenture Matchplay before any match was completed on day one.

Bitterly cold conditions gave way to early-afternoon snow, which covered the golf course in a white sheet.

Several matches weren't able to start, but here is a bracket-by-bracket summary of those that did get underway:

WGC-Matchplay: Bobby Jones bracket

One of the shocks of the tournaments looked on the cards in the Russell Henley v. Charl Schwartzel match after nine holes. The PGA Tour rookie was two up on the world number 11, but Schwartzel won the 10th and 11th to move back to all square.

Elsewhere, Bubba Watson v. Chris Wood and Jim Furyk V. Ryan Moore are both all square after six holes, and Jason Day is 6up on Zach Johnson thru 10 holes after playing the front nine in four-under-par. WGC Matchplay: Gary Player bracket

Defending champion Hunter Mahan is 4up on an out-of-sorts Matteo Manassero after nine holes. The Italian has made six bogeys and no birdies thus far.

Jason Dufner also has his back to the wall in his match with Joburg Open champion Richard Sterne. The South African has picked up where he left off, and is currently 3up with just eight holes remaining.

Second seed Lee Westwood leads Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello, and 2011 defeated finalist Martin Kaymer is 1dwn after four holes in his tough-looking match against in-form South African George Coetzee.

WGC-Matchplay: Ben Hogan bracket

Number two seed Justin Rose shot out of the blocks against K.J. Choi, and moved four up after five holes. The Korean has since halved the defect, but Rose looks favourite to progress to round two with nine holes remaining.

Nicolas Colsaerts, making his second appearance in the tournament, leads 2011 FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas 3up after eight holes, and Sergio Garcia is 2up thru 15 against Thailand's number one, Thongchai Jaidee.

In the top match, Matt Kuchar, who is 3up with four holes to play, looks to be strolling to victory against Japan's Hiroyuk Fujita.

WGC-Matchplay: Sam Snead bracket

Bo Van Pelt is 5up with 6 to play over Australian John Senden, and matchplay maestro Ian Poulter leads Dubai Desert Classic champion Stephen Gallacher 3up after 12.

Thorbjorn Olesen has made a fast start against fellow European Tour player Jamie Donaldson, leading 3up after eight holes, and Adam Scott turned around a 2dwn defect to lead Tim Clark 1up thru eight.

Nick Watney is all square with David Toms thru one, and Steve Stricker - who hasn't payed since the Hyundai Tournament of Champions - is 2up on Henrik Stenson after two holes.  

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x