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| February 23, 2007 | Friday | Safar 5, 1428 |
Els makes early exit, Woods wins at Dove Mountain
MARANA, (Arizona) Feb 22: Ernie Els was the biggest name to fall by the wayside as Tiger Woods stayed on track for an eighth consecutive PGA Tour title at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday.
Twice champion Woods beat fellow American J.J. Henry 3&2 in his first-round match but fifth seed Els lost 4&2 to Britain's Bradley Dredge, who birdied three of the last seven holes at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club.
U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, surprise winner when the event was held at La Costa Resort for the final time last year, knocked out American Steve Stricker 4&3 and Canada's Stephen Ames pummelled Swede Robert Karlsson 8&7.
Among the other big names, Masters champion Phil Mickelson beat fellow left-hander Richard Green of Australia one up, world number two Jim Furyk edged past American Brett Quigley 2&1 and third seed Adam Scott lost to American Shaun Micheel at the 21st hole in the day's longest match.
Els, who has won the prestigious World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in England a record six times, struggled on the greens against Welshman Dredge.
“We were both a bit slow starting off but Ernie missed a few putts,” a beaming Dredge told reporters after winning on his debut in the 64-man event.
“Then I managed to take advantage of that and hit a few valiant shots and holed a few putts when I needed to. It feels pretty good. When you're playing Ernie Els, you know he's capable of anything.”
Woods, champion in 2003 and 2004 at La Costa, was always in control of his encounter after matching Henry with an outrageous par-four at the second hole.
After pulling his tee shot well left into desert scrub, Woods punched out just short of the fairway and hit his third 20 feet below the pin before making the putt. Henry, who reached the green in two, also made par.
“I think the second hole was huge,” Woods said after a calm, clear day in the Arizona desert. “It looked like he was probably going to take a one-up lead and get some momentum on his side early, and it just never happened.
CONSISTENT ENOUGH
“He never got up in the match. I played all right. I hit a couple of loose shots here and there but, overall, I felt like I was consistent enough to put pressure on him most of the day.”
Ogilvy, who beat PGA Tour veteran Davis Love III 3&2 in last year's 36-hole final, was delighted with his form against 2001 champion Stricker.
“It's the best round I've played all year probably,” the Arizona-based Australian said.
“I drove it pretty decent, birdied the holes I needed to birdie and didn't make any bogeys.
“And that's what you've got do to here. The weather is perfect so it's going to take a lot of birdies to do well here.
“I like the desert. I live in (nearby) Scottsdale and have always enjoyed playing in the clear air. The greens here are perfect, too.”
Ames, hammered 9&8 by world number one Woods in the first round last year, reeled off seven birdies in 11 holes to come out on the right side of a short match.
“I played really well,” Ames said after reaching the second round for the first time in three attempts.
“I was going to the 12th tee when my caddie told me: 'You just beat him.' I guess I was pretty much in the zone. I saw the ball going in the hole for a change rather than bouncing.”
In other matches, South Africa's Trevor Immelman crushed Denmark's Thomas Bjorn 6&5, Britain's Ian Poulter beat American Bart Bryant 5&4 and Ireland's Padraig Harrington edged out Ryder Cup team mate Lee Westwood with an eagle on the 19th hole. —Reuters
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