About the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship:
The WGC Accenture Match Play Championship is part of the World Golf Championships series of tournaments. This event is played at match play, rather than stroke play, and begins with a field of 64 golfers. The players knock each other off until two remain for the championship match. (More on format below.)
2012 WGC Accenture Match Play Championship
Hunter Mahan defeated Rory McIlroy in the championship match, 2 and 1, to claim his first WGC title. To reach the final, Mahan had beated Mark Wilson in the semifinals while McIlroy dispatched Lee Westwood. Wilson won the third-place match over Westwood, 1-up.
Hunter Mahan defeated Rory McIlroy in the championship match, 2 and 1, to claim his first WGC title. To reach the final, Mahan had beated Mark Wilson in the semifinals while McIlroy dispatched Lee Westwood. Wilson won the third-place match over Westwood, 1-up.
2011 Tournament
Luke Donald never trailed in the championship match and defeated Martin Kaymer 3 and 2. It was Donald's first WGC victory and third career PGA Tour win. Despite losing, Kaymer's performance moved him up to the No. 1 world ranking. Matt Kuchar defeated Bubba Watson for third place.
WGC Accenture Match Play Championship Format:
The field for the WGC Match Play Championship is comprised of the Top 64 available golfers from the Official World Golf Rankings, who are seeded 1-64 according to their rankings.
The golfers face off in single-elimination, 18-hole, match-play matches. In the first round, the No. 1 seed plays No. 64; No. 2 plays No. 63; and so on.
On the final day, the last four golfers play semifinal matches in the morning. The winners of the semifinals face each other in the championship match in the afternoon, while the semifinal losers play a consolation match.
• See also: Match Play Primer
WGC Accenture Match Play Championship Golf Courses:
The WGC Match Play Championship is currently played at The Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Tucson, Ariz. Previously, this tournament was played at:
- La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, Calif., 1999-2000, 2002-2006
- The Metropolitan Club, South Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia, 2001
WGC Accenture Match Play Championship Trivia and Notes:
- Jeff Maggert won the first WGC Match Play Championship in 1999. That was the first WGC tournament played, making Maggert the first-ever WGC champion.
- Tiger Woods is the only multiple winner of this tournament. Woods won back-to-back in 2003-04, then added his third victory in 2008.
WGC Accenture Match Play Championship - Past Winners:
2012 - Hunter Mahan def. Rory McIlroy, 2 and 1
2011 - Luke Donald def. Martin Kaymer, 3 and 2
(Prior to 2011 championship matches were 36 holes)
2010 - Ian Poulter def. Paul Casey, 4 and 2
2009 - Geoff Ogilvy def. Paul Casey, 4 and 3
2008 - Tiger Woods def. Stewart Cink, 8 and 7
2007 - Henrik Stenson def. Geoff Ogilvy, 2 and 1
2006 - Geoff Ogilvy def. Davis Love III, 3 and 2
2005 - David Toms def. Chris DiMarco, 6 and 5
2004 - Tiger Woods def. Davis Love III, 3 and 2
2003 - Tiger Woods def. David Toms, 2 and 1
2002 - Kevin Sutherland def. Scott McCarron, 1-up
2001 - Steve Stricker def. Pierre Fulke, 2 and 1
2000 - Darren Clarke def. Tiger Woods, 4 and 3
1999 - Jeff Maggert def. Andrew Magee, 1-up (38 holes)
2011 - Luke Donald def. Martin Kaymer, 3 and 2
(Prior to 2011 championship matches were 36 holes)
2010 - Ian Poulter def. Paul Casey, 4 and 2
2009 - Geoff Ogilvy def. Paul Casey, 4 and 3
2008 - Tiger Woods def. Stewart Cink, 8 and 7
2007 - Henrik Stenson def. Geoff Ogilvy, 2 and 1
2006 - Geoff Ogilvy def. Davis Love III, 3 and 2
2005 - David Toms def. Chris DiMarco, 6 and 5
2004 - Tiger Woods def. Davis Love III, 3 and 2
2003 - Tiger Woods def. David Toms, 2 and 1
2002 - Kevin Sutherland def. Scott McCarron, 1-up
2001 - Steve Stricker def. Pierre Fulke, 2 and 1
2000 - Darren Clarke def. Tiger Woods, 4 and 3
1999 - Jeff Maggert def. Andrew Magee, 1-up (38 holes)
