J.J. Henry Draws Tiger Woods in First Round of Accenture Match Play
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (February 20, 2007) - Apparently J.J. Henry’s birdie at the 17th hole during the final round of the Nissan Open last Sunday was a product of more than just good play. While walking up the fairway Henry was informed by a PGA Tour official that, due to a withdrawal and his world ranking of 65th, he had earned a spot in this weekend’s Accenture Match Play Championship, the first of his career. However, there was a catch. As the lowest seeded player in the championship his opponent will be none other than Tiger Woods, the number one ranked player in the world. The two will face off when the first round gets underway on Wednesday at The Gallery at Dove Mountain in Tucson, Ariz.
The Accenture Match Play is Henry’s first-ever World Golf Championship and features a purse in excess of $8 million. The top 64 players in the world will compete which should benefit Henry as he prepares to play in his first Masters Tournament in April.
Henry’s World Golf Ranking of 65 is due to his consistent play through five events this season. He has one top-10 finish, the Mercedes-Benz Championship in January, and two top-25 finishes through five events. Henry began his run of success on the PGA Tour last season when he won the Buick Championship in July of 2006. He was also one of the few bright spots on an otherwise disappointing American team at the Ryder Cup in September.
Henry will have a tough road against Tiger Woods, who won the only event he has entered in 2007, the Buick Invitational in late January. Woods won the Accenture Match Play in 2003, but was knocked out in the third round last year. Woods was very successful in match play events as an amateur winning both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur three times.
The Accenture Match Play, one of the four lucrative World Golf Championships, is one of the more popular events for Tour players. Invitations are extended to the top 64 players in the World Golf Rankings and the event runs from Wednesday, February 21 through Sunday, February 25. Click below for tournament coverage and live scoring.
