WGC-Match Play Championship

Woods and Scott withdrawals see Rose and McIlroy top seedings

ESPN staff

February 17, 2014

Rory McIlroy is among the top four seeds thanks to Tiger Woods' withdrawal © Getty Images

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Following the withdrawal of the top two ranked players in the world, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy have been confirmed as two of the top four seeds at the WGC-Match Play Championship.

World No. 3 Henrik Stenson, champion here in 2007, and No.6 Zach Johnson also top the seedings in the four brackets for the opening World Golf Championship of the year, which starts on Wednesday at Dove Mountain, Arizona.

Scott is midway through a six-week break, while Woods is reportedly in Sochi for the Winter Olympics with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn - despite the skier being forced to pull out of the Games with a knee injury.

Open champion Phil Mickelson has also withdrawn, but Steve Stricker has confirmed he will play after his brother came through a 10-hour liver transplant.

McIlroy and Rose, both looking for their first win at the Tucson showpiece, will open against Americans Boo Weekley and Scott Piercey. Rose is part of strong bracket that includes in-form youngster Jordan Spieth, defending champion Matt Kuchar and golf's latest major winner Jason Dufner.

McIlroy's quarter of the draw features Ryder Cup team-mates Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, as well as 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and another in-form American, Harris English.

Poulter, champion in 2010, opens with a mouth-watering tie against Rickie Fowler, while Westwood will take on English.

Englishmen Luke Donald and David Lynn face Italian youngster Matteo Manassero and American Brandt Snedeker respectively.

Elsewhere in the British representatives, Northern Ireland's 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell takes on big-hitting Gary Woodland, Welshman Jamie Donaldson faces Billy Horschel and Scot Stephen Gallacher tackles Ernie Els.

First round draw

Bobby Jones bracket

Matt Kuchar will defend his title at Dove Mountain © Getty Images

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Ben Hogan bracket

Rory McIlroy (NI) v Boo Weekley (USA)
Lee Westwood (Eng) v Harris English (USA)
Charl Schwartzel (RSA) v Kevin Stadler (USA)
Jim Furyk (USA) v Chris Kirk (USA)
Sergio Garcia (Esp) v Marc Leishman (Aus)
Bill Haas (USA) v Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp)
Ian Poulter (Eng) v Rickie Fowler (USA)
Jimmy Walker (USA) v Branden Grace (RSA)

Gary Player bracket

Justin Rose (Eng) v Scott Piercy (USA)
Ernie Els (RSA) v Stephen Gallacher (Sco)
Jason Dufner (USA) v Scott Stallings (USA)
Luke Donald (Eng) v Matteo Manassero (Ita)
Matt Kuchar (USA) v Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)
Ryan Moore (USA) v Joost Luiten (Ned)
Jordan Spieth (USA) v Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)
Thomas Bjorn (Den) v Francesco Molinari (Ita)

Sam Snead bracket

Zach Johnson (USA) v Richard Sterne (RSA)
Hunter Mahan (USA) v Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Esp)
Graeme McDowell (NI) v Gary Woodland (USA)
Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) v Martin Kaymer (Ger)
Dustin Johnson (USA) v Peter Hanson (Swe)
Victor Dubuisson (Fra) v Kevin Streelman (USA)
Bubba Watson (USA) v Mikko Ilonen (Fin)
Keegan Bradley (USA) v Jonas Blixt (Swe)

ESPN staff