Field for WGC - Accenture Match Play takes shape

With the conclusion of the Joburg Open on the European Tour and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the PGA Tour, the top 64 players on the current Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) have solidified their qualifying position in the field for the 2014 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Players have until Friday, February 14, at 5 p.m. ET to officially commit to the tournament, which returns to The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona from February 17-23. The 2014 bracket and tee times will be unveiled on Sunday, February 16, once the OWGR is updated following the conclusion of the Northern Trust Open on the PGA TOUR.

One player made a significant jump in the rankings and into the field – South Africa’s George Coetzee, who went from Number 74 in the OWGR to Number 59, thanks to his three-stroke win at the Joburg Open, co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Sunshine Tour.  This will be Coetzee’s third consecutive appearance at the Accenture Match Play Championship where he will be looking to advance beyond the first round for the first time.

In addition to Coetzee, who was 98th in the world at the end of the 2013, six players moved from outside the top 64 in the world to inside the Accenture Match Play Championship field this year: Stephen Gallacher (No. 66 to No. 37); Patrick Reed (No. 73 to No. 45); Scott Stallings (No. 106 to No. 54); Mikko Ilonen (No. 84 to No. 55); Pablo Larrazabal (No. 101 to No. 57); Kevin Stadler (No. 113 to No. 58); Thorbjorn Olesen (No. 65 to No. 60) ); and Mark Leishman (No. 72 to No. 62).

Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson have each indicated they may not compete in this year’s Accenture Match Play Championship, which means – pending the commitment deadline on Friday – that South Africa’s Richard Sterne (No. 65), American Scott Piercy (No. 66) and 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand (No. 67) would make the field.

Fans interested in purchasing or learning more about the Accenture Match Play Championship can visit us on Twitter @WGC_Accenture, go to worldgolfchampionships.com or call 520-571-0400.  Fans are reminded that each year, youth 18 and younger are admitted free of charge to the Accenture Match Play Championship when accompanied by a ticketed adult.  There is no limit to the number of youth 18 and younger who can attend with a ticketed adult.

<strong>Rank  Name                           Country</strong><br /><em>1          Tiger Woods*              USA<br />
2          Adam Scott*                 AUS</em><br /><strong>3          Henrik Stenson            SWE<br />
</strong><em>4          Phil Mickelson*           USA</em><br /><strong>5          Justin Rose                   ENG<br />
6          Rory McIlroy               NIR<br />
7          Zach Johnson               USA<br />
8          Sergio Garcia                ESP<br />
9          Matt Kuchar                 USA<br />
10         Jason Day                     AUS<br />
11         Dustin Johnson             USA<br />
12         Steve Stricker                USA<br />
13         Jordan Spieth                USA<br />
14         Ian Poulter                   ENG<br />
15         Graeme McDowell       NIR<br />
16         Jason Dufner                USA<br />
17         Brandt Snedeker           USA<br />
18         Charl Schwartzel           RSA<br />
19         Webb Simpson             USA<br />
20         Luke Donald                ENG<br />
21         Hideki Matsuyama       JPN<br />
22         Jim Furyk                     USA<br />
23         Keegan Bradley            USA<br />
24         Jimmy Walker              USA<br />
25         Thomas Bjorn              DEN<br />
26         Bubba Watson              USA<br />
27         Graham Delaet             CAN<br />
28         Jamie Donaldson          WAL<br />
29         Victor Dubuisson          FRA<br />
30         Ryan Moore                USA<br />
31         Hunter Mahan              USA<br />
32         Bill Haas                      USA<br />
33         Lee Westwood             ENG<br />
34         Louis Oosthuizen         RSA<br />
35         Ernie Els                      RSA<br />
36         Nick Watney                USA<br />
37         Stephen Gallacher         SCO<br />
38         Gonzalo Fdez-Castano  ESP<br />
39         Miguel A Jimenez        ESP<br />
40         Kevin Streelman           USA<br />
41         Joost Luiten                  NED<br />
42         Billy Horschel              USA<br />
43         Harris English               USA<br />
44         Patrick Reed                USA<br />
45         Francesco Molinari       ITA<br />
46         Jonas Blixt                    SWE<br />
47         Branden Grace             RSA<br />
48         Martin Kaymer             GER<br />
49         Chris Kirk                    USA<br />
50         Matteo Manassero        ITA<br />
51         Thongchai Jaidee          THA<br />
52         David Lynn                  ENG<br />
53         Rickie Fowler              USA<br />
54         Scott Stallings                USA<br />
55         Mikko Ilonen               FIN<br />
56         Gary Woodland            USA<br />
57         Pablo Larrazabal            ESP<br />
58         Kevin Stadler                USA<br />
59         George Coetzee           RSA<br />
60         Thorbjorn Olesen        DEN<br />
61         Peter Hanson                SWE<br />
62         Bernd Wiesberger        AUT<br />
63         Marc Leishman             AUS<br />
64         Boo Weekley               USA<br />
65         Richard Sterne             RSA<br />
66         Scott Piercy                   USA<br />
67         Kiradech Aphibarnrat   THA</strong><br />*Have indicated they will not be playing