World number one Tiger Woods will take Canada's Stephen Ames in the opening round of this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa Resort and Spa after the draw has been revised late on Monday.

Woods was initially pitted against Briton Graeme McDowell but the withdrawal of Denmark's Thomas Bjorn with a sore neck forced a reshuffle in Wednesday's first round matches.

Bjorn is the second leading European to pull out of the opening World Golf Championships (WGC) event of the year. World number six Sergio Garcia of Spain decided not to compete.

Northern Irishman McDowell will now face world number two Vijay Singh, world number three Retief Goosen will take on Briton Paul Broadhurst and fourth-ranked Ernie Els will meet 2004 European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer.

World number five Phil Mickelson, winner of last year's US PGA Championship at Baltusrol, starts out against fellow American Charles Howell III, while holder David Toms will play British Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter.

Woods, champion at La Costa in 2003 and 2004, suffered a surprise first-round defeat in 2002 and lost to Australia's Nick O'Hern in the second round last year.

Source: Xinhua