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By PGATOUR.com staff

J.J. Henry had planned to go to Tucson anyway. Only now, the plane flight from Los Angeles to Arizona will be a lot more fun.

(Grayson/WireImage)

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

J.J. Henry's 2007 PGA TOUR Rankings

Stat Rank Driving Distance 80th Driving Accuracy 46th GIR 15th Putting Average 123rd Birdie Average 85th Scoring Average 138th

• More Stats, click here

Henry, who was the first alternate for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, found out Sunday afternoon that he had gained entry into the star-studded event when South Africa's Charl Schwartzel withdrew. So Henry won't be hanging around the Gallery at Dove Mountain waiting and wondering like he thought he would be when he wound up 65th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

His opponent? None other than No. 1 seed Tiger Woods, but Henry will deal with that on Wednesday. The most important thing was working his way into the field of 64 for the $8 million event for the first time in his career.

Henry got the good word from PGA TOUR rules official Mark Russell as he was walking down the 17th fairway during the final round of the Nissan Open on Sunday afternoon. Schwartzl has decided to play in the Vodacom Championship where he has the chance to lock up the Sunshine Tour's Order of Merit.

Henry responded to the news by making birdie on the 17th hole.

"I told Mark, man, you made my day walking up 17," Henry recalled. "I don't have to really sweat it out and feel like I'm kind of on the outside looking in. Again, I'm excited. Like I said, any chance as it stands now, who knows what might happen. Any chance you get an opportunity to play against the best player in the world and, of course, how he's been playing, will only help me and it's a great way for me to go out and see how I match up. I'm looking forward to it."

Henry got his first taste of international match play competition last September when he played in the Ryder Cup. The 31-year-old halved three matches -- two four-ball dates with Stewart Cink and his singles match with Paul McGinley -- at the K Club and was one of the U.S. Team's most emotional players.

"I love playing match play," Henry said. "Of course, you don't get a chance to do it much, but I always felt like it was kind of a strength in my game. I feel like I make a lot of birdies and take advantage of some par 5s. I'm just looking forward to it.

"This will be my first chance to play in the (Accenture Match Play Championship). So to get an opportunity to play let alone, and then of course to get to play against Tiger is something that, you know, win or lose I'm going to have a lot of fun and just enjoy the week here, enjoy the day here, and we'll take it one step at a time."