WGC World Matchplay golf brackets - page 3

The WGC World Matchplay golf tournament starts on Wednesday, here we preview who will be playing who in the first round

WGC matchplay

WGC World Matchplay golf

Gary Player bracket

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Tiger Woods 1 vs Charles Howell III 16

Three time winner Tiger Woods will start the tournament against fellow American Charles Howell III. Woods' last matchplay victory came in 2008. Howell III has had a good start to 2013 and can't be ruled out.

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Gonzalez Fernandez-Castano 8 vs Francesco Molinari 9

Only three places separate the pair in the world rankings, who are placed 36th and 33rd. The all-European tie could be one of the hardest matches of the round to call.

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Webb Simpson 4 vs David Lynn 13

Englishman David Lynn is the underdog as he comes up against Webb Simpson in the first round. Lynn finished tied 46th in the Northern Trust Open while Simpson was just two shots off the winner in 6th place.

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Thomas Bjorn 12 vs Peter Hanson 5

It's the battle of Scandinavia in this one. Bjorn has struggled to find any form so far this year, while Hanson had a disappointing 78th place finish in the weekend's Northern Trust Open.

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Lee Westwood 2 vs Rafael Cabrera-Bello 15

Lee Westwood took fourth place in last year's event, and despite average performances at Pebble Beach and the Northern Trust, he will hope for a similar run. Cabrera-Bello will make his first appearance in a WGC event.

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Martin Kaymer 7 vs George Coetzee

George Coetzee is another player making his WGC debut. Martin Kaymer was runner up in 2011 when he became the No.1 golfer in the World.

 

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Jason Dufner 3 vs Richard Sterne 14

Jason Dufner is making his second appearance in the WGC Matchplay Championships, after exiting in the first round last year. Richard Sterne followed up his 2nd place finish at the Dubai desert classic with a win at the Joburg Open this month.

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Hunter Mahan 6 vs Mateo Mannasero 11

The young Italian faces last year's champion, Hunter Mahan, who beat Rory McIlroy in the final. However, Mannasero has won his last two first round matches, in 2011 and 2012.

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