David Toms, who beat Ian Poulter on the 19th hole Wednesday as he began his Accenture Match Play Championship defense, questioned the wisdom of providing any bulletin board fodder for Woods.

"I don't know if you give the best player in the world any incentive to want to beat you," said Toms, who could potentially meet Woods in the quarterfinals this year. "He's going to go out and play one shot at a time and be at his best.

"This format tends to bring out the best in him, and I'm sure after last year losing early, he wanted to be there in the end. So obviously, he's brought his "A" game -- at least he did today."

Ames said he had nothing to lose on Wednesday. “Nobody thought I’d win,” the Canadian said, adding that he is just beginning to work his way into form after a 10-week layoff. “If I had a chance, it would be at the end of the year.”

Ames, who pointed out that he “doesn’t live in a warm climate,” usually uses the West Coast swing of the PGA TOUR as a warm-up for the rest of the season. Woods, on the other hand, was primed and ready from the outset – winning his 2006 debut at the Buick Invitational – and Wednesday was no exception.

“I hit the ball really well today,” Woods, who shot 29 on the front nine, said. “I got a great break on the first hole. I hit it up the right side, hit a tree and came back into the fairway. I was conceded a birdie there.

“And No. 2, I left it short uphill, but thank goodness it was downwind and it fell in. From there, I put the pressure on Stephen and he made a couple of mistakes, gave me a couple of holes.

“But other than that, it was some pretty good ball-striking for me today.”

Finally, Ames and Woods could agree on something.

“Tiger played well today, very well,” Ames said.