Clarke must face Rose in World Match Play
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Your support makes all the difference.Next week's World Match Play Championship in Carlsbad, California, is set to start with two all-British meetings – Colin Montgomerie against his fellow Scot Paul Lawrie, and the 2000 winner Darren Clarke against Justin Rose, after the provisional draw was made yesterday.
Clarke beat Tiger Woods in the final three years ago to claim the $1m first prize. Rose, still only 22, will be making his debut in the Championship which brings together the top 64 players in the world. The draw will be confirmed on Monday, but, as things stand, the ninth seed Padraig Harrington will open against the German Alex Cejka, Paul Casey takes on the fifth seed Retief Goosen and Nick Faldo meets Jim Furyk.
Woods cruised to victory on his first appearance of the season on Sunday in the Buick Invitational in California. Playing competitively for the first time since knee surgery in December, Woods began the day with a one-stroke lead but won by four after shooting a four-under-par 68 in La Jolla.
"I couldn't have asked for a better start," he said. "To have played 72 holes without being sore, which is a big positive. And to have won the tournament is another big positive."
Phil Mickelson played with Woods and Brad Faxon in the final threesome, but never got closer than two strokes and settled for an even-par 72. Carl Pettersson, of Sweden, claimed second place on 276 after carding a 69. Faxon finished third on 277, a stroke better than Mickelson, Briny Baird and the rookie Arron Oberholser.
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