Toms withdraws, Baddeley advances automatically

David Toms

MARANA, Ariz. -- David Toms conceded his match with Aaron Baddeley in Thursday's second round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship due to a back injury.

Baddeley now advances to face the winner of Thursday's match between Arron Oberholser and Tiger Woods.

Toms, who hurt his back during his 2-and-1 victory over Zach Johnson on Wednesday, conceded prior to the start of the match.

According to Rule 2-4 (Match Play - Concession of Match, Hole or Next Stroke) of the USGA Rules of Golf: "A player may concede a match at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that match."

Toms' concession is different from a withdrawal from the event. This is a nuance of match play competitions versus stroke play. So with Toms having conceded his match, he is entitled to receive $90,000 official prize money as a loser of a second-round match.

Toms has played in eight Accenture Match Play Championships and has a 23-8 record in the World Golf Championships event. He has reached the championship match twice, beating Chris DiMarco in 2005 and losing to Tiger Woods in 2003.

Baddeley was hitting balls on the range after Toms' concession was announced. He planned to go out and play after all the second-round matches had started at the Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain.

"I'm actually think of going out and playing like a nine-hole match against par type of thing, where I can just go out and actually hit shots and leave about a four- or five-footer for par and tinker around with it so I feel like I'm having a match because this is a little bit different than stroke play," Baddeley said.