Match Play - The Leveller CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Even in a star-studded field that includes the 64 best players in the world, some names stand out, Tiger Woods, David Duval or Sundays winner of the Nissan Open Ernie Els. Any of the three would be a good choice. But in this gruelling format -- which is mentally as well as physically challenging -- a high seed doesn’t automatically guarantee success -- one bad round, one bad hole and it can alter the outcome. There is no tomorrow to make up for a couple of bogies. "As everyone saw in the Ryder Cup and The Presidents Cup, on any given day you can probably take the top 64 players and throw them up in the air," Steve Elkington explained. "I think anyone can beat anyone."' Elkington used his fellow Australian, Craig Parry, as an example. Parry, who checked in at No. 49 on the Official World Golf Ranking, hasn't won in more than a year -- and he has yet to capture a PGA Tour event. But Parry is an aggressive performer who shines in match play. "He may play a little different style of golf when he plays in match play because he’s not protecting his score," Elkington suggested. "'He’s not thinking about where he’s finished on the money list. He’s not trying to win. Some guys just play different in match play. "Now, obviously all these guys like Tiger and Duval and (Mark) O’Meara, they all play good anyway. But match play is a very distinct arena that an unranked player or a player that’s not the favourite can become very dangerous. "So I think that’s why this tournament is so exciting."' Elkington, who will play Steve Jones in the opening round on Wednesday, has proven himself on both fronts. He has won The Players Championship twice and the 1995 PGA Championship -- in each case, surviving four rounds of stroke play against three of the strongest fields in golf. And just last December, Elkington put together a 3-0-2 record playing for the victorious International Team at The Presidents Cup. His success, the personable Australian says, comes from focusing on his opponent rather than playing the golf course. "So if he hits it down the fairway, I try to hit it down the fairway," Elkington said. "And if he hits it in the rough, I just try to get in the fairway. I just try to do better than he does -- so scoring, to me, becomes irrelevant and I try to beat my opponent. "I’m going where he goes, and hopefully, a little better." As a two-time winner here, Elkington also has quite a history at La Costa Resort and Spa on which to draw. With its big fairway bunkers, the Dick Wilson course places a premium on the tee shot -- but can be forgiving at the same time. Birdie opportunities abound. Just not on the final three holes. "They are quite long, obviously," Elkington said. "In match play any hole can swing you either way. But I think it you get a lead at La Costa and you’re playing well, you should be able to hold off your opponent coming in because it’s not a sort of gimme birdie on any of those. "So, in theory, if you’re ahead coming to 16 -- if I make three pars, I take my chances. No one can reach the 17th hole. Maybe Tiger Woods can. But the match could be over by then, too. You don’t know."