Where Would You Take The Match Play?

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It's sounding more and more like the WGC Accenture Match Play will be leaving Tucson's Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Resort and Cholla Nursery sooner than later. Accenture is not thrilled with the place and we know how the players, media and fans feel about the Nicklaus course that was designed for this event and yet somehow manages not to include much in the way of charm of memorability.
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Day One WGC Match Play This And That

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All 32 matches are summed up at PGATour.com and the current bracket is here.

Jim McCabe files notes on the highlights from day one while Gary Van Sickle says Tiger's loss wasn't much of an upset. He also offers day two predictions.

Besides reporting on the pathetic pace of the Poulter-Cink match, Doug Ferguson's notes include this on Jason Day's savvy gamesmanship in his win over K.T. Kim.

"I made the choice to walk in front of him all the time, to be in front of him, just to show him that I was there, show him that I'm still around, instead of walking behind him and him being in front," said Day, a 3-and-2 winner.

"So, it was a little bit of a tactic to say, 'I'm still here, I'm still going to fight and I'm going to try and win as good as I could.'"

Steve DiMeglio points out that it was not a great day for the elite American players.

The Americans had four of the top 10 seeds at Dove Mountain, and Mickelson is the only one left. Matteo Manassero (FSY), the 17-year-old Italian, became the youngest winner in this tournament with a 2-and-1 victory over eighth-seeded Steve Stricker (FSY), while Jim Furyk (FSY) (No. 10) continued his struggles in losing to Ryan Palmer (FSY), who was making his Match Play debut.

In previewing the obvious match of day two (Mickelson v. Fowler), Randall Mell quotes Phil as saying he's well rested in part because of his daily jet commute during the L.A. and Pebble Beach stops.

Jim Moriarty suggests that the wackiest match crown belongs to the Els-Overton battle.

"Golf Channel On NBC" Coming Saturday...How About "NBC On Golf Channel"?

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For Immediate Release...

Golf Channel on NBC – Golf Channel and NBC Sports will combine resources this week in their first event together under the newly-formed NBC Sports Group.  Golf telecasts on NBC Sports will now be re-branded as “Golf Channel on NBC,” with NBC golf coverage incorporating the Golf Channel look and feel throughout every telecast.

Why can't we get Wednesday through Friday with Dan Hicks, Johnny, Gary and NBC graphics on Golf Channel, then on the weekend switch over to GC on NBC? A little cross pollination, if you will?

Johnny: Tiger Needs A Win, Especially Since NBC Televises The Next Six Events

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From today's conference call, reported by Randall Mell:

“Tiger just needs a win, the bottom line is that it could be the Hershey Bar Open,” Miller said. “He needs to say, `Hey, I can win again.' . . . He better win something before Augusta, because it's just too hard to go a couple years, or whatever it's going to be, to win at Augusta without winning. I’m not saying he can't do it, like Jack Nicklaus did winning the Masters out of nowhere in '86, but he needs a win.”

Today's Tiger Presser Would Have Been More In Depth And Compelling Via Twitter

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 A "no doubt," a "Got to take it one match at a time," but no "it's all right in front of you." Frankly, his Twitter Q&A sessions are more revealing.

Hey, I have an idea. He should pull out his phone and scribes could tweet him questions next time!

As for insights, the only one came in a question. It sounds like someone in the room realizes that the days of visits to the remote Tucson backcountry may be numbered.

Q. Would you like to see it stay here in Arizona?

TIGER WOODS: I think it's a great event here. When we moved from the Gallery to here, it's two neat golf courses, two good match play courses. Some drivable par 4s, some par 5s are reachable. The greens are just enough where they are undulating enough where it presents a little bit of a problem. And you know, on calm days generally the scores are pretty low. When the wind blows out here, right around par, couple under par usually gets a match done.