SHANE LOWRY IS set for a first-round showdown against Tiger Woods at next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships.
Bradnt Snedeker’s decision to pull out with sore ribs has scuppered the prospect of two all-Ireland showdowns at the Dove Mountain event.
Early seedings for the $8.5m shootout indicated that Lowry, who snuck in as world number 65 in place of Phil Mickelson, would face Rory McIlroy while Graeme McDowell would meet Padraig Harrington.
Instead the knock-on effect of Frederik Jacobson’s late call-up should see the Swede face world number one McIlroy while Lowry steels himself for a head-to-head with Tiger.
McDowell is set to take on Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn while Sweden’s Peter Hanson will be Harrington’s first opponent. The draw for the opening round matches will be officially confirmed on Sunday.
Hunter Mahan beat Rory McIlroy in last year’s final, taking home the winner’s $1.4 million share of the prize fund.
