Tiger Woods is coming to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship next week, and he's bringing the world's best golfers with him.
Woods was among the 64 golfers who committed to Match Play on Tuesday, three days ahead of the deadline to withdraw.
His early commitment is stunning, especially because the three-time Match Play winner has traditionally waited until the Friday before an event to announce his schedule.
Match Play executive director Wade Dunagan greeted the 64-for-64 news with four words: "I think it's terrific."
Woods and fellow star Phil Mickelson both missed last year's tournament for personal reasons; both are in this year, with Woods seeded third overall and Mickelson fourth based on their standing in the World Golf Rankings.
Match Play pits the world's top 64 golfers in a head-to-head, single-elimination tournament.
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Practice rounds begin Monday, with the 32 first-round matches taking place next Wednesday at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.
Lee Westwood holds the No. 1 overall seed in this year's tournament, with Martin Kaymer ranked second. The duo, along with Woods and Mickelson, will be the top four seeds in four 16-man brackets.
The name recognition and the well-publicized "Tiger Effect" should boost ticket sales in the week leading up to the event.
Tournament officials have already sold more grounds passes and luxury packages than at this point a year ago, said Judy McDermott, executive director of the Tucson Conquistadores.
The added star power will only help.
"My gut reaction," McDermott said, "is we'll sell 50 percent of our grounds tickets in the next week."
Said Dunagan: "I'm excited for the fans because Tiger's such a favorite. I can't help but think it'll make the phones ring."
Players will arrive in Southern Arizona this weekend, with the first of two practice rounds scheduled for Monday.
This year's tournament will feature an altered schedule.
Match Play's semifinals, typically held Saturday, have been moved to Sunday morning. The tournament's championship match has been shifted to Sunday afternoon and trimmed from 36 to 18 holes.
By then, tournament officials hope, there will be at least a few big-name players left.
Tuesday's news was a good start.
"It speaks to the quality of the event, and the value of the event to the players … they consider these just like one of the four majors," Dunagan said. "If we have 1 through 64, we're absolutely thrilled."
Match Play field
Tentative WGC-Accenture Match Play field
1. Lee Westwood
2. Martin Kaymer
3. Tiger Woods
4. Phil Mickelson
5. Graeme McDowell
6. Paul Casey
7. Rory McIlroy
8. Steve Stricker
9. Luke Donald
10. Jim Furyk
11. Ernie Els
12. Ian Poulter
13. Matt Kuchar
14. Dustin Johnson
15. Robert Karlsson
16. Retief Goosen
17. Francesco Molinari
18. Hunter Mahan
19. Bubba Watson
20. Louis Oosthuizen
21. Alvaro Quiros
22. Tim Clark
23. Miguel A. Jimenez
24. Edoardo Molinari
25. Charl Schwartzel
26. Adam Scott
27. Kim Kyung-Tae
28. Robert Allenby
29. Rickie Fowler
30. Geoff Ogilvy
31. Zach Johnson
32. Nick Watney
33. Anthony Kim
34. Justin Rose
35. Padraig Harrington
36. Peter Hanson
37. Ross Fisher
38. Jason Day
39. Ben Crane
40. Ryo Ishikawa
41. Martin Laird
42. Yuta Ikeda
43. Camilo Villegas
44. Y.E. Yang
45. Bo Van Pelt
46. Bill Haas
47. Sean O'Hair
48. Ryan Moore
49. K.J. Choi
50. Hiroyuki Fujita
51. Mark Wilson
52. Anders Hansen
53. Stewart Cink
54. Jeff Overton
55. Ryan Palmer
56. Charley Hoffman
57. Matteo Manassero
58. Jonathan Byrd
59. Richard Green
60. Heath Slocum
61. Brendan Jones
62. Thomas Bjorn
63. Noh Seung-yul
64. Toru Taniguchi
If you go
• What: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
• Where: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain
• When: Feb. 23-27
• Ticket info: Call 1-866-942-2672 or visit worldgolfchampionships.com
