Vijay Singh has become the third player to withdraw from this week's Accenture world match play championship in California. The former Masters and US PGA champion, winner of the Phoenix Open last month, has been troubled by a rib injury since and he joins Nick Faldo ('flu) and Japan's Toru Taniguchi on the sidelines.
Swede Carl Pettersson comes into the £3million event and in Wednesday's first round - providing there are no more withdrawals - will play Tiger Woods, the player he was runner-up to in last week's Buick Invitational.
Britain's Luke Donald is now the first reserve waiting to see if another spot becomes available.
Singh was to have played defending champion Kevin Sutherland in the first round, but his exit brings wholesale changes to the draw, which will be officially made tomorrow night.
Filed by Johnny Proby
