Ian Poulter has not yet thought about what he will say when he next sees Tiger Woods, but he would love it to be: “I’m number two now.”

NO Tiger Woods, no Phil Mickelson. Surely then no better opportunity for Lee Westwood to win his first World Golf Championships title.

Six British players won their first round contests at the Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday and nobody was more impressive than world number 26 Paul Casey.

Ryder Cup team-mates Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington are both looking forward to meeting in an intriguing first round encounter at the Accenture Match Play Championship tomorrow.

Kevin Stadler has become the first American to win the RBS shot of the month award after his victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in February.

The Blue Monster course at Doral in Florida appears to hold no fears for world number one Tiger Woods.

Twelve months on from their terrific last round duel Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson looked on collision course again today when they returned to the Ford Championship at Doral in Florida.

Pádraig Harrington holed out from a bunker with his last shot of the day to begin the Ford Championship at Doral in Florida with a four-under-par 68.

THE countdown to next month’s Masters at Augusta starts in earnest today as the US Tour kicks off its ‘Florida Swing’ with nine of the world’s top 10 competing in the Ford Championship at Doral.

The countdown to next month’s Masters at Augusta starts in earnest tomorrow as the US Tour kicks off its ‘Florida Swing’ with nine of the world’s top 10 competing in the Ford Championship at Doral.

In what he calls “the start of my mini-season”, Nick Faldo this week plays his first tournament in America since pulling out of the Masters with back trouble last April.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy, seeded only 52nd of the 64 players who began the week, became yet another shock winner of the Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa.

Davis Love and Geoff Ogilvy shared the first seven holes of their Accenture world match play championship final at La Costa today.

Sole surviving Irishman, Pádraig Harrington, beat Argentina’s Angel Cabrera to reach the last 16 of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California today.

Those wondering what had happened to Bernhard Langer since he captained Europe to their record-breaking Ryder Cup win two years ago now know.

Pádraig Harrington was the only Irishman still standing at the Accenture World Match Play championship as Tiger Woods broke another record at La Costa near San Diego today.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON was the only Irishman still standing on a day when there was no keeping Tiger Woods out of the headlines when the Accenture World Match Play championship began at La Costa near San Diego.

Fred Couples is so excited about the Ryder Cup in Ireland in September that he is thinking of attending as a spectator.

A record 17 Europeans are in the 64-strong field for the Accenture World Match Play championship starting in San Diego tomorrow – and Colin Montgomerie believes they are all capable of emulating Darren Clarke.

Stephen Ames admits he does not like match play much. But that did not stop him hastily changing plans after being giving the chance to take on Tiger Woods tomorrow in the Accenture World Championship in San Diego.

Thomas Bjorn has withdrawn from this week’s Accenture World Match Play Championship in San Diego with a sore neck.

Rory Sabbatini has spoken out about heckling after grabbing the win which takes him top of the American golf tour.

THE WITHDRAWAL of Sergio Garcia means that Ireland's Graeme McDowell will provide the first round opposition to Tiger Woods in the Accenture World Match Play Championship beginning in Carlsbad, California, on tomorrow week.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell faces a match against Tiger Woods after squeezing into the 64-man field for next week’s Accenture world match play championship at La Costa near San Diego.

Luke Donald, who came from six shots back to win the Target World Challenge in December, found himself needing the same last-day fireworks after a disappointing third-round 71 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am.

Sergio Garcia, Europe’s only player in the world’s top 10, is set to turn down his place in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in San Diego in two weeks’ time.

GIVEN the manner in which he failed to capitalise on a winning position in the Target World Challenge in California on Sunday, one might expect Darren Clarke to be beating himself up.

Davis Love today gave a dazzling display to send Lee Westwood out of the Accenture world match play championship at La Costa in California.

The more Padraig Harrington has played the Accenture World Match Play Championship, the merrier he has become.

Of the 15 Europeans taking part in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California this week none has a story to tell quite like that of Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman.

Thirty-two players, including at least two Europeans, were due to be knocked out of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California today. But they have all lived to fight another day.

Two months after a health scare prompted him to take immediate action Nick Price has the chance to return to the golfing spotlight tomorrow.

Ernie Els has been confirmed as the only one of golf’s top 64 players missing the Accenture World Match Play Championship at La Costa near San Diego this week.

TWO weeks, two wins for Phil Mickelson. And these aren’t ordinary victories.

As things stand in the world rankings, Darren Clarke will play his compatriot Graeme McDowell in the opening round of the Accenture World Match Play Championship at La Costa near San Diego next Wednesday.

Ernie Els will skip the $7.5m (€5.8m) Accenture Match Play for the second year in succession as he dedicates himself to Major glory.

DESPERATE situations demand desperate remedies — so Darren Clarke has decided to swallow his pride and turn to the belly putter for this week’s €3.3m Smurfit European Open starting over the new South (or Smurfit) Course at The K-Club on Thursday.

TIGER WOODS yesterday reminded golf spectators the world over that heckling has no place in the sport.

Tiger Woods today reminded golf spectators the world over that heckling has no place in the sport.

Davis Love admitted today he was ready to quit his Accenture Match Play Championship final with Tiger Woods after being heckled by a spectator.

TIGER WOODS last night retained his Accenture Match Play Championship title with victory over Davis Love in California.

Tiger Woods tonight retained his Accenture Match Play Championship title with victory over Davis Love in California.

Davis Love today carved out a slender lead over Tiger Woods at the halfway stage of the all-American final of the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Darren Clarke fired two eagles in four holes as he booked his place in the semi-finals of the Accenture Match Play Championship today.