Els, Garcia fall in Match Play openers

By Doug Ferguson
Associated Press

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Ernie Els stood off to the side of the 18th green, proud of his late rally and clutch bunker shot that figured to be good enough to move one match closer to a dream final against Tiger Woods.

Phil Tataurangi was pumped after his birdie on the 18th tied Ernie Els and forced extra holes. Associated Press

Woods held up his end of the bargain yesterday in the Match Play Championship, beating Carl Pettersson, 2 and 1, with flawless golf over 17 holes.

For the Big Easy, it was another shocking finish at La Costa.

Phil Tataurangi holed a 25-foot birdie putt to force extra holes, a putt so unlikely that Els couldn't help but laugh. There was nothing to smile about, however, when he knocked Els out of the tournament, winning with a birdie on the 20th hole.

"So be it," Els shrugged. "I'm disappointed, but this is what happens with 18 holes of match play. I knew he was going to make that putt."

The most fickle tournament in golf lived up to its reputation in a wild and wacky first round, which featured the longest match in tournament history, a bizarre penalty and a stunning loss by Els, the hottest player in the world.

At least Woods stuck around, atoning for his first-round loss last year. He took the lead for good on the 13th hole, and seized control by holing a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 16 after Pettersson had chipped in for birdie.

"I had a putt that probably looked like it would win the match. Then, it looked like I could lose the hole," Woods said of the par-3 16th. "That's match play. It can swing that quick. I knew if I made that putt, I'd probably win the match."

Six of the top 10 seeds managed to advance to the second round — Phil Mickelson, David Toms, Davis Love III, Padraig Harrington and Jim Furyk.

Love overcame the biggest gaffe. Waiting to hit his third shot from a greenside bunker, his club slipped out of his hand and touched the sand — loss of hole. He still was 3 up and went on to beat Paul Casey.

Els wasn't the only one who left La Costa in a state of shock.

Sergio Garcia was 3 up with six holes to play until losing the next five holes to defending champion Kevin Sutherland. Charles Howell III, who lost in a playoff at Riviera last week, failed to make a birdie and lost 1-up to Niclas Fasth.

Mike Weir earned his keep. He went 26 holes before beating Loren Roberts, the longest match in the five-year history of the Accenture Match Play Championship.