Els, Singh, Curtis and Bjorn through to HSBC semi-finals

BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2003 HSBC World Match Play Championship | Round Two | 18 Oct 2003

Bumper crowds and excellent golf should be the order of the day as the 2003 HSBC World Match Play championship reaches the semi-final stage on Wentworth’s West Course on Saturday. Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Ben Curtis and Thomas Bjorn all booked a place in the last four with victories today.

The two semi-finals see defending champion Ernie Els take on former champion Vijay Singh in a repeat of the 1996 and 1997 finals and Thomas Bjorn cross swords with Open champion Ben Curtis.

Els survived a late comeback from Tim Clark, who came back from six down, to secure victory at the last hole, while Vijay Singh defeated US PGA champion Shaun Micheel at the second extra hole. Micheel had sunk a four foot putt at the last to take the match to extra holes.

The other semi-final is a repeat of the final round pairing at the 2003 Open Championship, when Curtis snatched victory from under the nose of Thomas Bjorn on the 18th green at Royal St George’s.

The 1997 champion Vijay Singh has found some much needed form during his afternoon round to turn his match against Shaun Micheel on its head. Micheel led by two holes at lunch but Singh’s come back saw him take the lead at the 28th hole.

Early on in the afternoon round the US PGA champion Micheel extended his lead over the Fijian former champion to three holes with an eagle at the 22nd hole.

Singh, the 2003 Open runner-up, then turned on the style to win four of the next five holes, with four birdies including a chip straight in the hole on 24, to go from three down to one up.

Denmark’s Thomas Björn overcame Masters champion Mike Weir 5 & 4.

Source – HSBC