Golf: Match Play wide open as Tiger exits

WENTWORTH - The first round exits of the world's No 1 and No 2 golfers, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, has thrown the World Match Play championships wide open, defending champion Michael Campbell believes.

Woods, the world No 1, last night lost 4 and 3 hiding at the hands of fellow American and former US PGA champion, Shaun Micheel, on the Wentworth course outside London.

World No 2 Furyk, winner of last week's Canadian Open, was on the receiving end of similar 4 and 3 drubbing by European Ryder Cup team rookie, Robert Karlsson of Sweden.

Campbell, who had to fight hard to beat England's Simon Khan 3 and 1, said the departure of Woods and Furyk had thrown the event wide open.

"See the smile on my face?" joked Campbell, who will next meet Scotsman Colin Montgomerie.

Campbell, the tournament's top seed, was out in the first match of the day and knew he had a fight on his hands when Khan went 2 up at the ninth.

The former US Open champion levelled with a 15-foot putt for birdie at the 13th and went to the lunch break 2 up after a 30-foot eagle putt at the 18th.

Campbell went 3 up at the 19th but lost the 20th and 22nd holes. Khan levelled the scores when Campbell bogeyed the 28th.

Khan dropped shots at the 32nd and 33rd holes before Campbell sealed his fate by holing a two-foot birdie putt at the 35th for the win.

"As the scores reflect, both Simon and I didn't play great today, but it's all about beating your man, not the golf course -- that's the most important thing in match play," Campbell said.

"The first nine holes was pretty tight and Simon hung on today like a British bulldog as he sunk a few good putts and wasn't going to let me have it easy.

"But I had no pressure at all being defending champion even though the expectations were on me to win my match against Simon."

Montgomerie, winner of the event in 1999, beat England's David Howell 1 up with a birdie at the 36th hole.

He expected a tough match against Campbell.

"Michael is the defending champion and it's been a long, long time since he lost a match in this event," Montgomerie said.

First-round results at Wentworth (seeding in brackets):

Michael Campbell (1) beat Simon Khan (16) 3&1
Colin Montgomerie (9) beat David Howell (8) 1 up
Paul Casey (12) beat Retief Goosen (5) 6&4
Mike Weir (13) beat Adam Scott (4) 3&2
Robert Karlsson (14) beat Jim Furyk (3) 4&3
Angel Cabrera (11) beat Ernie Els (6) 2&1
Luke Donald (7) beat Tim Clark (10) 2 up
Shaun Micheel (15) beat Tiger Woods (2) 4&3

Tonight's quarter-final match-ups:

Michael Campbell (1) v Colin Montgomerie (9)
Paul Casey (12) v Mike Weir (13)
Robert Karlsson (14) v Angel Cabrera (11)
Luke Donald (7) v Shaun Micheel (15)



- NZPA