Woods opens world against Micheel

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LONDON, England -- Tiger Woods will face fellow-American Shaun Micheel in the first round of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth on Thursday.

World number one Woods is bidding to extend his spectacular winning streak to six successive tournaments.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell begins the defense of his title against Simon Khan

The first round pairings have also thrown together European Ryder Cup team-mates Colin Montgomerie and David Howell.

New world number two Jim Furyk starts against Ryder rival Robert Karlsson.

Woods lost in the final to his close friend Mark O'Meara in his only previous appearance at Wentworth in 1998.

If the world number one beats 2003 U.S. PGA champion Micheel, he will meet Briton Luke Donald or Tim Clark of South Africa in the quarterfinals.

South African Ernie Els starts his quest for a record seventh World Match Play trophy by taking on big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera.

The elite 16-man field will be chasing the richest first prize in golf, one million pounds ($1.87 million).

Draw for 36-hole matches (prefix number denotes seedings; tee off times local (GMT + 1):

1-Michael Campbell (New Zealand) v 16-Simon Khan (Britain)

Tee off times 0736 & 1206

8-David Howell (Britain) v 9-Colin Montgomerie (Britain)

0748 & 1218

5-Retief Goosen (South Africa) v 12-Paul Casey (Britain)

0800 & 1230

4-Adam Scott (Australia) v 13-Mike Weir (Canada)

0812 & 1242

3-Jim Furyk (U.S.) v 14-Robert Karlsson (Sweden)

0824 & 1254

6-Ernie Els (South Africa) v 11-Angel Cabrera (Argentina)

0836 & 1306

7-Luke Donald (Britain) v 10-Tim Clark (South Africa)

0848 & 1318

2-Tiger Woods (U.S.) v 15-Shaun Micheel (U.S.)

0900 & 1330

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