Ogilvy expects the unexpected

Unpredictability, as title-holder Geoff Ogilvy well knows, is likely to be the watchword at this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona.

Ogilvy, then ranked 53rd in the world, pulled off a surprise victory in last year's 36-hole final at La Costa Resort and Spa, beating veteran American Davis Love III 3&2.

Although highly rated by his peers, Ogilvy had triumphed only once before on the PGA Tour and needed a marathon 80 holes to win his first four matches that week.

"More crazy stuff happens in match play than will ever happen in a stroke play tournament," US Open champion Ogilvy said during preparation for the opening World Golf Championships (WGC) event of the year.

"Crazy stuff happens in the last six holes of a stroke play tournament but crazy stuff happens all week in match play. You'll see guys chip in to go down extra holes or you'll see a guy win four holes in a row or hole three 30-footers in a row.

"I wish we could bottle what happens in match play for a stroke play tournament because we'd probably do a lot better."

Ogilvy, who will face 2001 champion Steve Stricker in tomorrow's first round at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club, says last year's title was a pivotal factor in his US Open success at Winged Foot four months later.

"I probably wouldn't have won the US Open if I didn't get to win this tournament," he added. "You've got the majors and the Players Championship and these (WGC events) are right behind those. These are the biggest tournaments in the world because everyone is here."

The vagaries of head-to-head golf are well documented and the record of twice champion Tiger Woods in the elite 64-man event is a prime example.

The world number one, who returns to action for the first time since winning last month's Buick Invitational outside San Diego, has reached the tournament final three times.

However, Woods has also experienced early disappointment, losing to Peter O'Malley at the first stage in 2002 and to another Australian, Nick O'Hern, in the second round in 2005.

Woods, who is seeded one, will meet fellow American J.J. Henry in Wednesday's opening round.