About the Event: Golf's version of the FA Cup kicks off on Wednesday with 32 first round matches. Four quarter-finals will be played on Saturday with the semi-finals, consolation match and final on Sunday.

Course Characteristics: Weighing in at over 7,700yds this week's venue is the longest on the PGA tour, suggesting that the big-hitters are the ones to concentrate on. However, looking at the recent winners at Dove Mountand that's simply not the case. Geoff Ogilvy (2009), Ian Poulter (2010) and Luke Donald (2011) are hardly among the game's bombers. It was their ability to avoid three-putts and bogeys that led to glory.

The Main Men

Rory McIlroy (12-1): Reached the quarter-finals in 2009 and although his swing changes haven't fully clicked in just yet, he's still managed to record nine top fives (including two wins) in his last 10 starts worldwide.

Tiger Woods (14-1): Captured the World Match Play title on three occasions but has not fared particularly well since the last of them in 2008. In fair form so far in 2012 with five of eight rounds being in the 60s for a third and a 15th.

Luke Donald (18-1): Faces a tough task as only Tiger Woods has won back-to-back Match Play titles. Missed the cut prior to landing this championship in 2011, so not too much should be read into his dismal start to the year so far.

Sergio Garcia (22-1): The last time he played in this event he recorded a fourth place finish in 2010. Arrives in great nick judged by a tied fourth on Sunday when he closed with a 64 (two eagles, five birdies).

Webb Simpson (33-1): Makes his debut in the World Match Play Championship but he's been in good form so far in 2012 with two top-10s in three starts, the most significant being in the desert of Phoenix were he tied for eighth. Also ranks fourth on the tour for GIR.

Adam Scott (33-1): Has failed to get past the second round in his last six starts in the event but could break that jinx this week as he closed last year with top-10s in six of his final nine starts. Returned to action with a decent 17th on Sunday in the Northern Trust Open in which he was eighth for driving distance.

Keegan Bradley (40-1): This will be a first start for one of the rising stars of the PGA tour. Five outings this year have yielded four top-25s and a last-time-out play-off loss in the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.

Charl Schwartzel (40-1): Reached the third round in 2009 and has a decent record in the Presidents Cup. Returned to form with a fifth in the Volvo Golf Champions event and was not disgraced when 17th in Abu Dhabi subsequently.

Bubba Watson (40-1): Very good debut fourth in the 2011 edition of the World Match Play Championship and his form this season (four top-20s in four starts) is good enough to earn serious consideration.

Matt Kuchar (50-1): Lost to eventual winner Luke Donald in the semis last year before beating Bubba Watson in the consolation match. Steady start to 2012 with a couple of top-25s in three appearances.

Hunter Mahan (50-1): Got as far as the third round 12 months ago but is another who can progress further this time round as he's in cracking form with six top-10s in his last 11 outings.

Jim Furyk (66-1): Has failed to get past the third round, but did play well in a similar format in the Presidents Cup in November. Third for fairways hit and ninth for birdies on his way to tying for 11th in last week's Northern Trust Open.

Juston Rose (66-1): Reached the quarter-finals in 2007 and that's his best return in six appearances. Could advance further this week on the evidence of a tied second for GIR and 13th place overall on Sunday.

Brandt Snedeker (66-1): Lost to Lee Westwood on his only previous appearance in 2008, but he's a much improved player since then. Four starts in 2012 have yielded a win and a tied eighth.

Fredrik Jacobson (100-1): Has not played in the Accenture World Match Play Championship since 2005 but had a stellar season on the PGA tour in 2011 and played well to claim a share of 13th at Riviera last week.