Want to move into top 64? Better do it this week

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MARANA, Ariz. -- Crunch time has officially arrived for players looking to secure their standing among the top 64 in the Official World Golf Ranking and earn an invitation to the 2010 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Feb. 15-21 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.

This week's tournament action from around the world that could affect the top 64 in the OWGR includes the PGA TOUR's Northern Trust Open and the European Tour's Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

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Ben Crane put himself in position to play at Dove Mountain by winning at Torrey Pines last week.

The top 64 players in the OWGR as of next Monday, Feb. 8, will qualify for the Accenture Match Play Championship. Should a player ranked among the top 64 be unable to compete or choose not to play, he will be replaced in the field by the next available player from the OWGR. Players have until 5 p.m. ET, Friday, Feb. 12, to commit.

The final rankings used for the Accenture Match Play Championship will be locked in when next Monday's rankings are released.

A great performance this week could make the difference between a player packing his bags for Arizona or watching the season's first World Golf Championships event as a spectator.

Ben Crane, who held off Australians Michael Sim and Marc Leishman, and American Brandt Snedeker for a one-stroke victory at the PGA TOUR's Farmers Insurance Open last week, is a prime example of a player getting hot at the right time. Crane entered the week ranked No. 109 in the OWGR, but jumped 53 spots to No. 56 following his victory in San Diego.

Should he maintain his position in the top 64, Crane would make his third-career appearance at the Accenture Match Play Championship and first since 2008. The three-time PGA TOUR winner advanced to the second round in both 2007 and 2008.

The Nationwide Tour's Player of the Year in 2009, Sim is comfortably within the top 64 in the OWGR at No. 34 and appears poised to make his first start in a World Golf Championships event. Leishman, the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year in 2009 and Snedeker, who garnered the same honor in 2007, will in all likelihood need a victory or top-five finish this week at the Northern Trust Open to earn an invitation. Leishman currently stands at No. 81 while Snedeker checks in at No. 75.

Currently occupying the final three spots in the top 64 in the OWGR are Americans Chad Campbell (No. 62), Ben Curtis (No. 63) and Scott Verplank (No. 64). The trio has combined to make 15 previous starts at the Accenture Match Play Championship, with Campbell enjoying the most success. The Texan has never finished outside of the top 10 in four previous starts, highlighted by a fourth in 2007. All three will look to create some breathing room this week at the Northern Trust Open.

A number of European Tour players currently on the bubble are competing in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this week. One of those players, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee (No. 59), has never competed in the Accenture Match Play, but has appeared in 11 World Golf Championships events during his career, including the WGC-HSBC Champions last November. Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, a veteran of eight previous Accenture Match Play Championships, is No. 60 while India's Jeev M. Singh is No. 61.

The Accenture Match Play Championship looks to have a decidedly International feel in 2010, as 13 of the top-20 players and 42 of the top 64 in the OWGR, as of this week, hail from outside of the United States.

The International contingent, as it stands now, represent 18 countries around the world with England (7) and South Africa (5) boasting the most players. Robert Karlsson, one of three Swedes inside the top 64, earned a victory last week on the European Tour at the Comercialbank Qatar Masters and is well positioned for a favorable seed at No. 17 in the OWGR.

The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship has partnered with the Tucson Conquistadores to be the sales arm and charitable contribution beneficiary of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Proceeds from the Accenture Match Play Championship primarily benefit The Tucson Conquistadores charities, including The First Tee of Tucson, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and Pima County Special Olympics. Since 1962, The Tucson Conquistadores have contributed more than $21 million to youth organizations.