It'd be great (but unlikely) to see the stars match up

	No offense to Bart Bryant, but if he reaches the final, some golf fans may tune out. Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Once again the PGA Tour provides a refreshing alternative to stroke play with this week's Accenture Match Play Championships. It's a nice change of pace for the players, fans and ABC, but it's a dicey proposition. Historically, it has provided less brilliant theater while succumbing to more demoralizing dreary finishes.

Theoretically, match play pits the best against the best in a mano a mano final. Everyone -- perhaps outside of the participating players -- hopes the quarterfinals, semis and finals showcase highly ranked warfare. We wish for it every year. Yet we leave mostly disappointed after the five-day process.

In a perfectly ranked scenario, fans would witness top seeds Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen earn wins into the semifinals. Excellent broadcast alternatives include Phil Mickelson, John Daly and Fred Couples.

Yet golf match play is hardly the forgone conclusion usually witnessed in tennis. Racquet stud Roger Federer normally breezes through matches; in his case, the best player almost always prevails.

Not so in golf. Players fight their own demons and formidable opponents, as well as finicky course conditions. And lesser players can easily catch lightning for 18 holes, or have the luxury of blowing up on a hole without falling hopelessly behind. In match play, good fortune (luck) is as vital as skill level. That's why the ABC suits this week will down buckets of Tums while praying the marquee players prevail into the weekend.

The first event final match in 1999 pitted the scintillating duo of Jeff Maggert and Andrew Magee. Even though it went to 38 holes, the final was far from must-see TV. After Darren Clarke dispatched Woods 4 and 3 in 2000, viewers were subjected to Steve Stricker defeating Pierre Fulke, and Kevin Sutherland beating Scott McCarron.

Finally, Woods defeated David Toms 2 and 1 in 2003, then Davis Love III 3 and 2 the next year in a match in which Love was criticized for allowing a heckling fan to screw with his head. Last year, Toms routed Chris DiMarco 6 and 5.

Favorites also carry the extra burden of playing dangerous lesser-ranked opponents with nothing to lose.

Before Thomas Bjorn withdrew with a sore neck, the 64th-ranked Graeme McDowell was scheduled to play Woods in the first round.