Jason Day faces a potentially spicy rematch with Paul Casey amid a challenging draw for this week's WGC-Match Play Championship in Austin, Texas.
Fresh from his wire to wire triumph in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, world No.2 Day opens his account on Wednesday against former US Open champion Graeme McDowell, a Ryder Cup stalwart and winner of the 2013 European Tour match play.
Next up in the group stage, he faces Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee before a Friday grudge match against England's world No.25 Casey.
Casey and Day had a famous match in 2011, when a young Day on debut refused to concede putts and forced the Englishman to putt from close range on his way to a 4 and 2 win.
The move incensed Casey as he was favoured, coming off the back of repeat runner-up finishes the prior two years.
The Englishman has a 20-10 record in the event.
Day, who has won five of his last 12 starts on the US tour, claimed the WGC-Match Play in 2014, the last year the tournament had a straight knockout format. He has a 14-6 record.
He was less successful in his title defence in the current round robin format going 0-3 last year in group play.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge of match play golf once more, it is a favourite format of mine and I'm hoping I can continue my winning form," Day told AAP.
"Every player in this field is capable of beating another in 18 holes so you really have to be on your game and I expect a tough test from all three guys.
"GMac (McDowell) is a tough start on Wednesday - he's a great player, a major winner and just a real gritty competitor.
"Jaidee will also be tough and then Casey and I have some history so it will be an interesting match up on Friday."
World No.6 Adam Scott, who has already won twice this season, will face world No.32 American Bill Haas, England's World No.43 Chris Wood and Belgium's World No.57 Thomas Pieters in his group.
While his recent form is hot, Scott has a mediocre WGC-Match Play record at 14-15, also going 0-3 last year in group play.
World No.27 Marc Leishman will face off against Spain's world No.14 Sergio Garcia, American world No.47 Ryan Moore and England's world No.61 Lee Westwood.
World No.62 Marcus Fraser will have to negotiate his way past two major champions in current British Open champion Zach Johnson and former US PGA champion Martin Kaymer plus Ireland's Shane Lowry.
Fraser and Matt Jones could play their way into the Masters if they can progress to the semi-finals.
World No.63 Jones will open up against world No.18 and former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen before match ups against England's world No.31 Andy Sullivan and Austria's world No.37 Bernd Wiesberger.
While unlikely, it is possible for four Australians to make the final four.
World No.1 Jordan Spieth drew good friend Justin Thomas, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.
Defending champion and world No.3 Rory McIlroy drew Americans Kevin Na, Smylie Kaufman and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.
The opening matches at Austin Country Club begin Wednesday morning.
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