By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – Most PGA Tour players look forward to this match-play tournament each year, for the simple fact that it’s a break from the monotony that is stroke-play competition all year long.

And now, the way that this tournament is being played has changed, and players were looking forward to the new format.

In years past, the World Golf Championships Cadillac Match Play had been played in the manner of the single-elimination NCAA basketball tournament. However, the one being held this week at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, is a lot more like the World Cup of soccer.

The 64-player field is divided into 16 four-player groups and has begun playing round-robin matches with their particular group on Wednesday and will continue to do so on Thursday and Friday. The player with the best record in each group will advance to the round of 16 for single-elimination match play that commences Saturday morning.

When that stage concludes, the quarterfinals will be held Saturday afternoon and be followed by the semifinals on Sunday morning. The third-place match, as well as the one for the title, will take place Sunday afternoon.

With that said, there was no shortage of lower seeds beating higher-ranked players on Wednesday, which was the first day of the competition.

“There were a ton of upsets already from what I’ve seen,” said Jason Day, who himself was knocked off 4 and 3 (Day was down four holes with three left to play) to Charley Hoffmann on Wednesday. “But no one’s a favorite here in formats like this. You really have to go out and still – no matter who it is – win that match and try and get through to the next round.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing; you can’t underestimate what they’re playing like leading up to the event.”

Among other higher-ranked players who learned the hard way was Justin Rose, fresh off of his win at last weekend’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, who fell to Marc Leishman, 3 and 2.

John Senden was another surprise winner on Wednesday, as the No. 60 seed took down the third-seeded Henrik Stenson in 19 holes in a match that Senden trailed by one going into the 18th and final hole in regulation.

Meanwhile, the two top players in the world took care of their business, as No.1 Rory McIlroy defeated Jason Dufner by a 5-and-4 count, while Jordan Spieth, this year’s Masters winner, was a 4-and-2 winner over Mikko Ilonen.

“It’s good to get off to a good start,” Spieth said after his round. “It got a little interesting on the back nine, (but) I’m extremely pleased.”

The shot of the day was turned in by Ben Martin, who was all square with Matt Kuchar after 16 holes. Martin pulled out a hybrid club at the par-3 17th hole, and his ball hit the middle of the green and rolled into the hole for an ace that put him ahead by one.

That proved to be the difference, as both men missed their birdie putts at the 18th, and Martin pulled off the minor upset.

“I’d say under the circumstances, (it was) definitely the best shot I’ve ever hit,” Martin said. “I knew it was on a good line, but I looked down, and then it was almost too far to see it go in.”