Match Play pairings released

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MARANA, Ariz. -- Defending champion Luke Donald faces Ernie Els in the first round of the Match Play Championship. Tiger Woods is to play Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

The seeding for the first World Golf Championship of the year is based on the world ranking released Sunday night.

Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are the top four seeds. Woods, a three-time winner of the Match Play is the No. 19 seed, the first time he has played this event without being among the top three seeds.

The 64-man field begins Wednesday at Dove Mountain. Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey are not playing.

The Donald-Els match is the highest-profile for an opening round since Woods played Nick Faldo in the inaugural event in 1999.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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