MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – Play was suspended at 11.07 local (1.07 p.m. ET) because of driving rain and snow in the opening round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday.

Just over three-and-a-half hours of golf was possible on a bitterly cold and breezy morning at Dove Mountain before officials halted the action at the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event as ice began to form on the greens.

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk joined a growing chorus of players backing the idea of the PGA Tour adopting a local rule to ignore a proposed ban on putters anchored to the body on Tuesday.

American Stricker, widely regarded as one of the game’s best putters, said he had changed his view after consistently opposing the use of long putters and that he would not be surprised to see the tour dig in its heels.

MARANA, Arizona, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk joined a growing chorus of players backing the idea of the PGA Tour adopting a local rule to ignore a proposed ban on putters anchored to the body on Tuesday.

American Stricker, widely regarded as one of the game’s best putters, said he had changed his view after consistently opposing the use of long putters and that he would not be surprised to see the tour dig in its heels.

MARANA, Arizona, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk joined a growing chorus of players backing the idea of the PGA Tour adopting a local rule to ignore a proposed ban on putters anchored to the body on Tuesday.

American Stricker, widely regarded as one of the game’s best putters, said he had changed his view after consistently opposing the use of long putters and that he would not be surprised to see the tour dig in its heels.

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – Two days after winning a friendly match with his playing partner President Barack Obama, Tiger Woods said he felt in good shape for this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, an event he has won three-times.

The American world number two has not competed on the PGA Tour since clinching his 75th title at the Farmers Insurance Open four weeks ago, taking time off to be with his children before getting down to some serious practice.

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – Taking on the world’s top golfer would be a daunting challenge for most players but Shane Lowry says he is feeling calm ahead of his clash with Rory McIlroy at this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Irishman Lowry, who will play the world number one in Wednesday’s opening round at Dove Mountain, has known twice major winner McIlroy since their amateur days together and they have become good friends.

MARANA, Arizona, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Taking on the world’s top golfer would be a daunting challenge for most players but Shane Lowry says he is feeling calm ahead of his clash with Rory McIlroy at this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Irishman Lowry, who will play the world number one in Wednesday’s opening round at Dove Mountain, has known twice major winner McIlroy since their amateur days together and they have become good friends.

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – Possible snow showers forecast for Wednesday’s first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship could be a good omen for Luke Donald, who says he would embrace such conditions in Arizona’s high desert.

Two years ago, Donald won the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event with a 3&2 victory over Germany’s Martin Kaymer in the final after the day had dawned with almost an inch of snow blanketing Dove Mountain.

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – For the players, the self-directed questions can be endless as they steel themselves for the sheer lottery of the one-on-one format in this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain.

How many days will they last? Will their golf be good enough to win in Wednesday’s opening round? Can they still advance after a slightly off-day? Will the putts drop at the right time?

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – For the players, the self-directed questions can be endless as they steel themselves for the sheer lottery of the one-on-one format in this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain.

How many days will they last? Will their golf be good enough to win in Wednesday’s opening round? Can they still advance after a slightly off-day? Will the putts drop at the right time?