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