Woods vs. Mickelson: A match to light golf’s fire

TUCSON -- There’s a chance of a showdown between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson here at the Accenture Match Play Championship, but the odds say it’s not going to happen, basically because it has never happened before.

Woods, who took last week off while Mickelson won the Northern Trust Open at Riviera, has played this match play event eight times and never faced Mickelson.

As for Mickelson, Sunday’s final round amounted to an 18-hole warmup for this week’s format. Mickelson and Jeff Quinney found themselves in virtual match play, because no one else came close to competing with them for the chance to win.

Mickelson’s one-under 70 beat Quinney by two shots for the 37-year-old left-hander’s 33rd PGA Tour victory.

It was a two-player race, all the way, and Mickelson was pleased to have such a side benefit to the day . . . besides winning $1.116 million, of course.

“I think one of the coolest tournaments we have taking place is the match play,” Mickelson said. “I think Wednesday, the first day, is the most exciting because [there are] so many matches and so many upsets.

“The fact that we went head to head [Sunday] is kind of a perfect transition for the upcoming event.”

Mickelson’s victory, coupled with Woods’ return to the PGA Tour, creates a kind of buzz in an event that typically begins strong and then produces an unexpected champion after a raft of upsets.

Mickelson has never made it past the quarterfinals in eight appearances. Woods has won it twice, in 2003 and 2004, and lost in the final in 2000.

Chances of a Woods-Mickelson confrontation probably aren’t high; each player would have to win five matches to get to the final, where they would face each other Sunday in the 36-hole championship match. Actually, there’s one other scenario. If both players reach the semifinals and lose, they would play Sunday in an 18-hole consolation match.

Last year, Woods lost to Nick O’Hern in the third round and Mickelson lost to Justin Rose in the second round.

Woods plays J.B. Holmes in Wednesday’s first round. Mickelson takes on Pat Perez.

It could be an interesting week for Woods, who could play Mike Weir in the second round. Weir defeated Woods in the Presidents Cup. Woods could meet Rory Sabbatini in the third round and might also take on Ian Poulter -- two players who are on record as saying Woods’ status is at risk.

Beyond that, there is much at stake for Woods this week, namely his five-tournament victory streak, dating back to last season, and including his win at Torrey Pines on the PGA Tour and at Dubai on the European Tour.

Mickelson’s streak is modest in comparison, but coming through at Riviera can’t help but bolster his confidence, especially after missing the cut at Pebble Beach the week before.

Mickelson said he’s looking forward to facing Perez. “He’s solid and he’s played well,” Mickelson said.

Anything can happen in match play, and after the display Mickelson put on last week at Riviera, he expects to be ready for whatever falls his way.

It was not supposed to be a match-play tuneup, but if that’s even a small part of what it was, he’s happy to take it.

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thomas.bonk@latimes.com