Opening Day of the Accenture Match Play Championship

A spectacular day of golf is now complete after the First Round of the World Match Play Championship played at the new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona.

Brilliant sunshine, 87 degrees temperatures (with just 14 percent humidity) and good golf were on display.

Before the matches began in earnest, I spoke with Wade Dunagan, executive director of the tournament.

"Phenomenal attendance is expected all week," Dunagan exclaimed.  "It's going to be off the charts.  We have a new golf course, The Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain and there is lot more room for expanded crowds. Sales are already at the level of last year and we are looking for that number to grow."  

Dunagan was prophetic as 13,620 spectators attended the Tour's only match play format event.  The premises were packed with 520 members of the media.

A note to golf fans across Arizona, daily tickets are available for purchase and I highly recommend taking the easy drive to Marana and seeing this first-class event.  Different than in year's past when capacity limits were set, the 2009 World Match Play welcomes larger crowds.

On the course, the round of the day was turned in by American Zach Johnson. On very difficult Jack Nicklaus Signature greens, Johnson recorded seven birdies and an eagle in a 3 & 1 victory over Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.

Phil Mickelson and Argentina's Angel Cabrera collaborated for the match of the day.  Mickelson, fresh off his victory in Sunday's Northern Trust Open, came out hot and was 4 Up after eight holes.

That was still the margin with five holes to go, but Cabrera birdied four in a row to send the match to the final hole, all square.  Both players made par on 18, a 480-yard, par-4 but on the extra hole, Phil carded a birdie 3 and advanced to Round 2.

Afterwards, the world's No. 3 ranked player, who ironically is a number two seed here, was happy to move on. 

"It's very nice to win the first match," Mickelson said.  "I played against a very tough competitor who didn't start off the best but on the back nine, hit a lot of good golf shots.  I was fortunate to win in sudden death, but I'd gladly take it."

The tournament's No. 1 seeds had mixed results. Tiger Woods returned from his injury with a 3 and 2 victory over Brendan Jones of Australia, while Fiji's Vijay Singh defeated a game Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark 2 Up.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Spain's Sergio Garcia were bounced 1 Up by American Pat Perez and South African Charl Schwartzel, respectively. 

A couple of interesting things:

While covering the happenings at the first hole, I continually saw a couple ladies who were meticulously inspecting the golf bags of each participant; turns out that they were working too. Susan and Ann Naylor (a mother/daughter tandem) go by the business name of Darrell Survey.

This Los Angeles-based marketing firm is hired by all the major manufacturers to examine and record every single piece of equipment in the player's bag. Furthermore, they also analyze player's apparel right down to the spikes in the golf shoes. For the record, Susan estimated that 60 percent of PGA Tour stars wear soft spikes, while 40 percent prefer the traditional metal version.

Darrell Survey has been doing this research since 1974 and they travel to events on the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours. What a fun and unique job.

The place to be at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club was the Walter Hagen Club.  Tickets to this exclusive, VIP-type structure, sold out late last week. Sponsorships ranged from $500-$1,600 before the event began, but I was told that single day tickets were being re-sold on the streets for up to $300 per person, per day.

Breakfast, lunch and drinks are served in a classy, yet fun setting.  PROM Management Services along with manager Josh Andrus are the concessioners of this and 40 other similar-type Tour stops.

Considering that a general admission ticket to the World Match Play is $45, I'd pay the extra cash and obtain a ticket for the Hagen Club. It would be a great way to enhance your experience at this unique golf tournament.