21 Feb 2012

Donald plays Els first up at matchplay

6:08 am on 21 February 2012

The world's top-ranked golfer Luke Donald is looking forward to a return to matchplay this week after slumping to a closing round of 78 yesterday at the Northern Trust Open in California.

Donald is the defending champion at the WGC Matchplay Championship in Arizona where he won all six matches last year without being taken to the 18th hole.

He's drawn the South African Ernie Els in the opening round.

Tiger Woods returns to the tour after a week off, and his first round opponent will be the Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Bill Haas, the winner yesterday in Los Angeles, plays the young Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.