Tiger Woods' Match Play Opponent Calls Him 'Beatable'

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Tiger Woods' opponent in the opening round of the Match Play Championship says he's "beatable."

There was a time when comments like that — from Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, in this case — would serve as motivation for Woods. But on Tuesday, he didn't seem the least bit bothered except to say of the Spaniard, "He's beatable, too."

Woods says he has matured since the days he beat Stephen Ames, 9 and 8, after Ames questioned Woods' accuracy off the tee.

But that's the case for all 64 players at Dove Mountain this week in the first World Golf Championship of the year. Everyone is beatable in 18 holes of match play. Among the first-round matches: Luke Donald, the defending champion, against three-time major champion Ernie Els.