10 defining moments in WGC-Match Play history

Under normal circumstances, the first round of the 2020 WGC-Match Play would have started Wednesday. Sadly, that timeline is far from a reality at the moment.

Instead, now is an opportunity to reflect on the tournament's history and what's made the PGA Tour's only non-stroke-play event special - and extremely fun - over the years.

Here are 10 defining moments that have shaped the WGC-Match Play's history:

10. Tiger wins back-to-back

It took Tiger Woods four attempts to break through for his first WGC-Match Play title in 2003 after one close call and two early exits. The following year, Woods exuded dominance once again at one of the schedule's toughest and most grueling tournaments, taking down Davis Love III 3-and-2 in the final for his only win on the PGA Tour in 2004.

9. Clarke tames Tiger

Looking back at the record book, beating Tiger in 2000 would have seemed like an impossibility. But Darren Clarke somehow pulled off the feat during what would eventually become the most dominant season of Tiger's career.

Woods had already earned two victories on the year before facing off against the Northern Irishman in the 36-hole final. After coming up short in a 4-and-3 loss to Clarke, Tiger went on to win eight more events in 2000, including three majors.

8. Inaugural finish

Though the final match of the inaugural event lacked big names, it didn't end without drama. Jeff Maggert chipped in on the 38th hole to defeat Andrew Magee and claim the title in 1999. Maggert, who was the 25th-ranked player in the world, beat the top-seeded Woods in the quarterfinals en route to the victory.

7. Clash of the titans

Tiger and Rory McIlroy faced off in what was arguably the most highly anticipated match in tournament history during the round of 16 in 2019. It was Tiger's first appearance at the event since 2013 and McIlroy was fresh off his Players Championship title.

While the match didn't live up to expectations, it did make for appointment viewing and breathed life into an event that's been somewhat forgettable in recent years. Woods defeated McIlroy 2-and-1 but lost to Lucas Bjerregaard in the next round. It was the last time Tiger would play before his historic victory at the Masters.

6. Good-for-good?

Sergio Garcia pushed the limits of what should, and should not, be considered "good" with Rickie Fowler in 2014.

Feeling guilty after taking a long time to hit his chip near a swarm of bees, Garcia presented a good-for-good offer to his opponent. Fowler, who needed to make a 17-foot putt versus Garcia's four-footer to tie the hole, obviously obliged. The American took the halve and battled back to eventually beat Garica.

Don't take any "gimme" tips from Garcia into your Sunday match.

5. Sergio's missed tap-in

Five years after the exchange with Fowler, Garcia found himself in another rare conceded-putt situation versus Matt Kuchar in 2019. After missing a putt to win the hole, a frustrated Garcia failed to convert the tap-in that he figured Kuchar considered good.

But because the Spaniard had acted so quickly, Kuchar didn't have time to concede the putt. The two never made eye contact or exchanged words to confirm the putt was, in fact, good. By rule, Garica lost the hole.

After the match, Kuchar admitted he'd intended to give the putt to Garica. But since he hadn't been able to communicate his intentions and had alerted a rules official to the situation, there was nothing to be done.

Kuchar won the quarterfinal match but eventually lost to Kevin Kisner in the final.

4. O'Hern knocks off Tiger ... again

Tiger had won seven consecutive PGA Tour events leading into the 2007 match play and looked well on his way to No. 8. But in the round of 16, Woods was up against Nick O'Hern, who had upset Tiger in the second round two years prior.

The Aussie had Tiger's number yet again, defeating the best player in the world with a birdie on the second playoff hole. O'Hern finished his career with a perfect 2-0 record against Woods in singles, a claim very few professionals can make.

3. Bradley vs. Jimenez

Who doesn't love seeing players get a little heated?

That's exactly what happened during a preliminary match between Keegan Bradley and Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2015. Tensions began to elevate early in the match when Jimenez delayed play to get a ruling from an official. On No. 18, it was Bradley's turn for a ruling. Jimenez stepped into the situation without being asked, which didn't go over well with Bradley or his caddie.

A few weeks after the two nearly came to blows, Bradley admitted he'd let Jimenez get under his skin and called the Spaniard's gamesmanship "genius."

2. Cactus saves

Victor Dubuisson burst onto the scene in 2014 when he made a run all the way to the final to face Jason Day.

It wasn't until after the two were deadlocked through 18 holes that the match got truly interesting. On the first extra hole, Dubuisson's approach shot settled in a gnarly lie in a cactus. Somehow, the Frenchman managed to pull off a miraculous par save to extend the match.

On the very next hole, Dubuisson found himself in the exact same situation. Once again, he converted the unlikely up-and-down to leave Day shaking his head.

Day eventually secured the victory on the fifth playoff hole, but Dubuisson certainly made him work for it.

1. "Ames'd"

Stephen Ames learned a tough lesson in 2006: Never call out Tiger.

Prior to their quarterfinal match, Ames liked his chances against his opponent, saying "anything can happen, especially where he's hitting the ball." Tiger proceeded to completely dominate the Canadian en route to a stunning 9-and-8 victory.

"I think he understands now," Tiger said after the beatdown.

The term "Ames'd" was coined that day, and it's now used in any blowout scenario during match play.