Rory McIlroy will go into the second round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship later today trying to block out any thoughts of a potential dream tie with Tiger Woods.

If Northern Ireland's world No16 defeats American Hunter Mahan at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, world No1 Woods could be waiting for him in the third round if he gets past Tim Clark.

But the 19-year-old (below) will put that thought on hold just a little while longer.

"That's a long way off for the minute," said McIlroy. "We'll see what happens.

"I don't know how my match is going to go, all I can do is concentrate on that."

Dubai Desert Classic winner McIlroy, who is playing his first pro tournament in the United States, beat South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen 2&1 to set up his clash with US Ryder Cup star Mahan, who beat Mike Weir of Canada one up.

While McIlroy hit the ground running in Arizona, Padraig Harrington's desert odyssey ended early as he suffered an upset first-round loss to American Pat Perez.