CARLSBAD,(California), March 1: World number one Tiger Woods continued his quest to win his first World Matchplay Championship with a comfortable third-round victory on Friday.

Woods, who beat Australia’s Stephen Leaney seven and six, will meet face 47-year-old Scott Hoch, who defeated Japan’s Toshi Izawa four and three.

World number three Phil Mickelson, however will not join Woods in the last eight after Jerry Kelly defeated him two up.

Mickelson has never advanced past the third round in four attempts at the tournament.

Woods, however will be joined by Jay Haas, Australia’s Adam Scott and Peter Lonard, Britain’s Darren Clarke and David Toms.

Woods had his best round of the championship with two eagles, two birdies and only one bogey over the 12 holes on Friday.

Woods, who lost the 2000 final to Clarke, has had a long layoff to allow his left knee to mend following surgery and is playing in only his third tournament of the year.

Mickelson never got his game on track on Friday and shot an aggregate two-over-par for 16 holes.

Kelly made one mistake early when he missed the first fairway and made bogey but after gaining the tee following a birdie on the fourth hole, he never relinquished the honor and rode his two-birdie, one-bogey round to a win.

Kelly, who won the Sony Open and the Western Open last year, said he had found it difficult finding motivation for his match with Mickelson until he read an article in Sports Illustrated on Thursday, in which he was voted one of the over-rated players on tour.

Kelly will meet 2001 PGA Champion David Toms on Saturday, while Clarke will take on Lonard.

Clarke played well through 13 holes of the match with Jim Furyk with four birdies and no bogeys, but after losing the 14th, his round and game changed.

Clarke had only one par from the 14th through the 18th, but Furyk did not make a par on the last four holes.

Results after third round (prefix number denotes seeding; U.S. unless stated):

1-Tiger Woods bt 48-Stephen Leaney (Australia) 7 and 6; 25-Scott Hoch bt 56-Toshi Izawa (Japan) 4 and 3; 61-Jay Haas bt 13-Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 20 holes; 44-Adam Scott (Australia) bt 60-Kevin Sutherland 2 and 1; 31-Peter Lonard (Australia) bt 15-Robert Allenby (Australia) 1 up; 26-Darren Clarke (Britain) bt 10-Jim Furyk 2 up; 19-Jerry Kelly bt 3-Phil Mickelson 3 and 2; 6-David Toms bt 54-Alex Cejka (Germany) 1 up —Reuters