Big names fall hard at HSBC
BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship | Matchplay Round One | 15 Sep 2006
The first day of action in the 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship provided more than its fair share of upsets with the World No.1 Tiger Woods, World No.2 Jim Furyk and six-time winner Ernie Els amongst those to make an early exit.
With such a high-class field on-show there was always going to be a big name casualty or two, such is the nature of the format, but few were expecting such drama as unfolded in front of bumper galleries at Wentworth.
Woods, a beaten finalist here in 1998, was soundly beaten 4&3 by Shaun Micheel in the biggest upset of the day after struggling to find the kind of form that had brought him five tournament victories in his last five starts.
Micheel overturned an early deficit and then was never headed again, notching seven birdies and an eagle while his illustrious opponent failed to sink the key putts that would have brought him back into the match.
The crucial blow came at the par five 12th where Micheel landed a five wood to within 12ft before knocking in the putt for an eagle that gave him a four hole advantage.
“I finish second to him more times than he’ll ever finish second to me,” insisted Micheel following his notable triumph.
“I know that he’s been playing some great golf and will continue to do that,” he added, “I know he didn’t play his best. Sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
Woods admitted, “He did what he needed to do. I felt like I hit the ball pretty decent all day, I just didn’t make any putts.”
Elsewhere, Furyk’s debut in the event proved to be short-lived as he was outclassed by Sweden’s Robert Karlsson who produced a superb opening round to set the tone for their clash.
An eight-birdie blitz during the morning saw the Swede go into lunch 5up and despite offering a late rally the American went down 4&3.
“It was a great round in the morning,” reflected Karlsson, “I played really, really good and holed out extremely well when I was under pressure and also a few long ones without any pressure.”
World No.2 Furyk admitted, “It came down to I putted poorly. I have no excuses.”
Another first day casualty was Els who succumbed to the big-hitting Argentinian Angel Cabrera 2&1.
The duo were evenly matched over the morning but Cabrera managed to hold onto his narrow advantage throughout the afternoon and was eventually handed the victory when the South African sent his drive out of bounds on the 17th.
The biggest win of the day went to England’s Paul Casey who also upset the seeding to beat South Africa’s Retief Goosen 6&4.
Their match was finely balanced after their opening 18-holes but the Englishman produced some stunning golf after lunch to take control of the contest.
The Ryder Cup-bound star notched five birdies and an eagle over the first ten holes and par golf was never going to be enough for Goosen.
“I’m very happy with that,” commented Casey following his debut in the event, “The Goose is a tough player, when he’s hot he’s extremely hot.”
Also safely into Friday’s second round is defending champion Michael Campbell who saw off the brave challenge of Simon Khan 3&1.
The New Zealander trailed for much of the morning round before a late flurry, including a 30ft putt for eagle on the 18th, saw him go into lunch 2up.
Khan proved a worthy challenger to the No.1 seed by levelling the match as they took on the back nine for the second time but crucial bogeys on the 14th and 16th enabled Campbell to take control with par golf.
The closest contest of the day was that between Colin Montgomerie and David Howell with the Scot finally edging out his Ryder Cup team-mate on the final hole.
All though he was never headed in the clash, Montgomerie was made to work throughout all 36-holes eventually striking the killer blow with his approach to the 18th that landed within 3ft.
“I’m just glad I managed to scrape through,” admitted a relieved Montomerie.
Another home favourite into the second round is Luke Donald who overcame Tim Clark in another gruelling contest.
The Englishman, another bound for the Ryder Cup next week, trailed for much of the first 18 holes but wrestled the lead from the South African in the latter stages of the round.
Donald capitalised on his lead after lunch and stretched his advantage to four holes by the turn but Clark responded by clawing back the deficit over the next six holes.
With extra holes looming Donald snatched a birdie at the 17th to heap the pressure on Clark going down the last and he could not force the error and cap a remarkable comeback.
“Whoever wins this week is going to have to play great golf no matter who they play,” insisted Donald.
“Obviously today a lot of the top seeds were knocked out so that opens things up a bit but there’s so many great players here.”
The second round picture is complete with the inclusion of Canada’s Mike Weir who also upset the seeding by beating Australia Adam Scott 3&2.
The left-hander dominated proceedings from the outset building a four hole midway through the back nine and despite a late stumble went into lunch with a healthy two hole cushion.
Scott threatened to produce a comeback after the break but three birdies in four holes from Weir around the turn swung the match decisively in his favour.
Source – HSBC
