Count Tiger Woods among those in favor of keeping the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Southern Arizona.
The three-time Match Play champion said today that he'd like to see the tournament stay here, preferably at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain. The future of the Match Play has been the subject of speculation in recent years; the tournament is in its sixth year on Dove Mountain after moving from La Costa, Calif. in 2007.
Woods, the world's most popular golfer at the time, was credited for the move; while waiting out a weather delay at La Costa, Woods noted that "it isn't raining in Tucson." He has played at five of the six Match Play events in Southern Arizona, bypassing opportunities to play at the Waste Management Open in Scottsdale. Woods said today that he would consider playing the Scottsdale event again.
As for Match Play staying, short-term or long-term, "I see no reason why it can't," Woods said. The Ritz-Carlton is in its final contract year.
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"This is a wonderful venue here at Dove Mountain and the Ritz," Woods said today before playing his practice round. "Everybody enjoys the facilities, and I think that from a player's standpoint, it provides so many different options that it's wonderful for Match Play."
Woods' comments come a day after Ernie Els praised the course for being in pristine shape. First-round matches begin Wednesday morning at 7:25. Woods, a No. 5 seed in the Sam Snead Bracket, will face Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. Tournament play continues through Sunday.
