Ames must find a means

What do Jeff Maggert, Darren Clarke, Peter O'Malley and Nick O'Hern have in common? They are the four players to whom Tiger Woods has lost at La Costa during his sundry appearances in the WGC Accenture World Matchplay Championship.

The world number one has twice won this event, in 2003 and 2004, and holds the record for the most consecutive victories at the event with 13, a streak bookended by a couple of Australians in O'Malley in 2002 and O'Hern last year. Woods's overall record stands at 21-4 over the La Costa layout.

Today it is the turn of Stephen Ames, the second alternate - Graeme McDowell was the first, and promoted on Sergio Garcia's withdrawal last week - who made the grade when Thomas Bjorn withdrew on Monday, to try to tame the Tiger. The former Trinidadian, who now represents Canada, will be hoping he can perform a little better than the 7 and 6 spanking he received from Mark Hensby last year.

It'll be interesting to note whether his observation that, "Anything can happen. Especially where he's hitting the ball", acquires more substance than the false bravado of whistling past the graveyard.

Woods withdrew during last week's Nissan Los Angeles Open, laid low by a particularly debilitating influenza bug that saw him lose almost half a stone.

Wood's decision to retire at Los Angeles after making the cut on the number was the first time in his professional career he left a tournament early for health reasons.

"I had a fever for three days and playing in the rain on the Friday pretty much did me in," he said.

Far from lowering his expectations for this week, Woods was upbeat as he stood on the apron of the 18th green yesterday after a second practice round. "Overall I feel good about what we are working on and excited about the way I have hit the ball for the last two days here.

"Basically when you play matchplay events, it's the final round (of a tournament) on the first day because anything can happen at any time. You can shoot six under and you're packing your bags. You never know what you are going to get. It's a totally different mindset.

"You play three days, maybe three-and-a-half, to come down to a one-on-one situation on a strokeplay event. And a lot of times it doesn't happen with the guy in the group. But now it's right from the first tee, it's a boat race, 18 holes."

Woods favours the matchplay at Wentworth, which he considers has a better format.

"Look at the winners. Usually better players have won that event, just because it's 36 holes. Here it's important to get off to a positive start. In an 18-hole match it's very difficult to claw it back when you go three or four down."

In Ames, the world number one encounters a familiar face, admitting, "I have played with Stephen quite a bit over the years. He's straight, very patient, and it's going to be a good match."

The set-up of the course is slightly different this week, which Woods feels will lend itself to the format. "The rough is starting to grow and they haven't cut it, so all it takes is a couple of mistakes. The par fives are reachable; you can make birdies and eagles there.

"It's certainly a different tournament, because we are used to playing the other side (they have switched the nines around) last. That's usually some of the toughest holes and it's right in the middle of the round.

"Still, I love matchplay. There's a rush going to the first tee knowing that you have to beat the guy to go on."

Ames has been warned.