Notes on the Accenture

10 things that struck me about the WGC Matchplay last week:

1) From the moment Tiger escaped from his opening round match against JB Holmes, you got the feeling he was going to win the first WGC event of the year.

2) Why do players (like Stewart Cink) putt like gods in previous rounds and then as soon as they play against Tiger start missing five-footers?

3) I know it's played in the middle of the Arizona desert, but why were there only 35 fans watching the action at The Gallery? Take that field to Wentworth and they'd be hanging out of the pine trees to catch a glimpse of the action.

4) Is it worrying, in Ryder Cup year, that three-quarters of the semi-final line-up of the year's premier matchplay event were American?

5) Why is there a par four on The Gallery course that is only 300 yards long?

6) Is Aaron Baddeley our best hope of someone regularly going head-to-head with Tiger and actually winning now and again?

7) Wasn't it a great change to watch a matchplay event?

8) Did Sergio REALLY take two putters out with him? I hope that was someone's idea of a joke.

9) Don't you just wish Angel Cabrera could play for Europe in the Ryder Cup? El Pato would fit in well.

10) Facing defeat in that opening match against Holmes, Woods closed his round by going 3, 2, 3, 3. That isn't human.

By Chris Bertram