Donald handed Els opener in Tucson defence

Luke Donald is set to start his Accenture Match Play title defence against former world number one Ernie Els in Tucson on Wednesday. Both have question marks over their form after finishing the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles with rounds of 78 yesterday, Donald having eight bogeys in his last 12 holes.They finished 56th and 59th respectively, but while Donald retains his world number one spot Els – desperate to climb into the top 50 by the end of next month to qualify for the Masters – dropped from 65th to 68th.

This week’s event is for the game’s leading 64, but the field was based on last week’s ranking and Els was given a spot when Phil Mickelson confirmed he was missing the tournament to go on a family holiday.

Unless there are any further withdrawals before the draw becomes official at lunchtime Rory McIlroy, back up to second in the world ahead of Lee Westwood, will take on South African George Coetzee, called in as second reserve following Paul Casey’s decision to delay his return from dislocating his shoulder snowboarding last month.

Westwood’s match with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts is set to be one of six all-European clashes. Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez are on collision course, as are Swedes Robert Karlsson and Fredrik Jacobson, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie, Martin Laird and Alvaro Quiros and also Thomas Bjorn and Francesco Molinari.

Tiger Woods, knocked out by Bjorn in the first round at Dove Mountain last year, will be up against Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, with the winner to face either Open champion Darren Clarke or American Nick Watney. Clarke beat Woods in the 2000 final.