• WGC-Match Play Championship

Scott to skip Tucson showpiece

Scott's impeccable 2013 season was highlighted by victory at Augusta © Getty Images

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Masters champion Adam Scott has announced he is to take a six-week break from the middle of January, meaning he will miss the opening WGC of the year - the Match Play Championship.

US Open and Open champions Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson have already stated their intent to pull out, and with Tiger Woods' girlfriend Lyndsey Vonn competing in the Winter Olympics at the same time, it is likely he will withdraw too - meaning four of the top five in the world rankings will not play at Tucson.

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Scott celebrates his Masters win, but where does he land in our top 10? © Getty Images

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Scott has not missed the Match Play Championship since he first became eligible in 2002.

But since the World Golf Championship moved to Arizona in 2007, he hasn't stuck around very long. Scott was beaten in the opening round the last three years, and he has not advanced beyond the second round since 2005 when it was at La Costa Resort north of San Diego.

Scott is playing the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua this week, followed by the Sony Open in Honolulu days later. He says he won't play again until the Honda Classic, which begins on February 27, meaning the world No. 2 will miss the entire West Coast Swing.

Meanwhile, Scott has narrowly beaten Woods to the Golf Writers Association player of the year award. Out of 218 ballots, Scott won by just five votes.

"It is an honour to be recognised as the most consistent male golfer of 2013 and it is appreciated to have the respect of the golf writers," Scott said.

The result of the female player of the year award was far more straightforward, with Inbee Park - who won three of the five majors in 2013 - receiving 91% of the votes.

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Extracts from this article were taken from reports on ESPN.com

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