CARLSBAD, California, 26 February 2005 — Title holder Tiger Woods and world number one Vijay Singh cruised to first-round victories at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Thursday, while 2000 winner Darren Clarke made an early exit.
After days of lashing rain delayed the start of the $7.5 million event by 24 hours, play finally began at the La Costa Resort and Spa under more typical southern Californian sunshine.
Woods, bidding for a third consecutive crown here and a return to the top of the world rankings, eased past Zimbabwe’s Nick Price 4 & 3 to extend his unbeaten run in the tournament to 13 matches and take his overall record to a sparkling 21-3.
Price, a three-times major winner, represented a potentially tricky test but the world number two went one up at the opening hole and never trailed.
“Today was most important to get off to a quick start and I was able to do that,” said Woods, who now meets Australia’s Nick O’Hern.
“Nick gave me the first hole (by carding a bogey five) and I was able to stick it out.”
Singh, who has never progressed beyond the second round here in five attempts, opened his campaign by crushing Japan’s Shingo Katayama 4 & 3.
The tall Fijian will this year almost certainly have to venture into uncharted territory if he is to maintain his hold on the world number one spot.
Woods will return to the top if he finishes third and Singh loses in round two, or if the 29-year-old American is runner-up to anyone but the Fijian.
Next up for Singh is American Jay Haas, a dangerous opponent who reached the quarter-finals two years ago.
“I don’t think it’s me, I think the other guy I played did better than me,” said Singh when asked why he has never been beyond round two.
“I’m just looking forward to tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll have a problem.”
Riding the momentum from back-to-back wins at the recent Phoenix Open and Pebble Beach Pro-Am, world number four Phil Mickelson beat fellow American Loren Roberts 3 and 1 while world number five Retief Goosen of South Africa edged Australia’s Stephen Leaney by one hole.
Canada’s Mike Weir, the world number nine, suffered a surprise one-hole defeat by American Kirk Triplett but Graeme McDowell registered the biggest upset, birdying the final hole to oust former champion and fellow Northern Irishman Clarke one up.
Clarke, who beat Woods in the 2000 final, arrived with a 14-4 record here and the 12th seed was again expected to challenge for the title.
“I played poorly, I got what I deserved,” said Clarke as he trudged off the 18th green.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia was a 4 & 2 winner over Germany’s Alex Cejka while Adam Scott of Australia followed up his victory at last week’s Nissan Open with a two-up triumph over South Africa’s Trevor Immelman.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington disposed of 1999 winner Jeff Maggert one up.
Due to the problems created by the heavy rain, the players face a marathon session on Friday with the second and third rounds being staged to get the tournament back on schedule.
O’Malley, Lyle Share Lead
In Wellington, Australians Peter O’Malley and Jarrod Lyle grabbed a share of the halfway lead at the New Zealand PGA in Christchurch yesterday.
The pair finished the second round tied for the lead at 10-under-par 134 after O’Malley followed up his opening round 66 with a 68 and Lyle shot a second consecutive 67.
Overnight leader Steven Bowditch finished a shot off the pace at nine-under after carding a 71 to be level with American Jeff Gove who signed for a 68.
Canadian Jon Mills and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas were tied for fifth at eight-under with a group of four Americans a further shot back. The Australasian tournament is co-sanctioned by the US PGA’s secondary tour.
O’Malley, who won the New Zealand PGA three years ago, carded five birdies and a bogey to join Lyle at the top of the leaderboard.
“I feel good, I’m hitting the ball nicely and controlling the flight well,” he said. “If it blows on the weekend, I’d like to see a bit of wind because of the way I’m striking it.”
Lyle, who turned professional in October after making a full recovery from leukaemia, did not drop a shot in a round that featured five birdies.
“I hit it reasonably straight,” Lyle said. “Just try to drive it as straight as possible and hit as many fairways as possible and give yourself opportunities to hit greens.”
