Day of shocks in California as Harrington bows out

PÁDRAIG Harrington, seeded seventh, was a major casualty – going down three and one to South African Rory Sabbatini in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California.

Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods, the top two seeds, were both sent tumbling out also as were Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and David Howell.

Harrington said: "It's not often you walk off not too bothered about losing, but that's the case. Rory deserved to win, no question about that.

"When you are not that competitive early in the season (it was only his second tournament) it's difficult to raise your game. I was struggling stuck in first gear almost."

The Dubliner did birdie two of the first three and was still two up after seven, but Sabbatini birdied four of the next five and turned things round.

McDowell, having beaten fellow Ulsterman Clarke with a last-green birdie in the first round, lost on the final hole to Australian Robert Allenby after being two up. Howell came from three down to all square with Adam Scott but lost two and one.

McDowell said: "I fell victim to the momentum of match play," he said.

"Robert holed a bunker shot on the 14th (their fifth), and that turned it."

"I felt like everything I did was just not good enough."

Westwood suffered a record-equalling seven and six defeat to last year's runner-up Davis Love. But Poulter was almost as impressive in crushing Australian Stuart Appleby six and five.

Westwood said: "At least I have a few days at home with the family now before going to Dubai.

"I didn't play well at all. For some reason I'm not comfortable with my swing I feel a little bit trapped on the way down but the course suits Davis down to the ground."

Westwood gave Love a helping hand on the opening two holes, going from rough into water at the first and then bunkering his tee shot on the short second.

But the American then moved into over-drive. After Westwood had made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 575-yard third, Love followed him in for a half from 15 feet and at the sixth produced a marvellous eagle two.

The tee had been moved forward 50 yards to tempt players to go for the green. Love accepted the challenge and hit his drive 305 yards to within 10 feet of the flag while Westwood found sand.

Love then birdied four of the next five holes to be seven under for 11, and a half at the next finished off his deflated opponent.

It was the seventh seven-and-six margin of victory in the championship's short history. Love's name appears on that list, but he will prefer the second entry he was thrashed by Clarke two years ago.

Woods, winner the last two years and with another chance to regain the world number one spot from Singh again this week, lost three and one to Australian left-hander Nick O'Hern.

Singh, meanwhile, went down by the same margin to 51-year-old American Jay Haas and so in six attempts he has still to progress beyond the second round of the event.

It made Phil Mickelson the new favourite for the title. Seeking a third successive US Tour victory, Mickelson beat Argentina's Angel Cabrera four and three after holing a bunker shot, a chip and a putt of nearly 50 feet.

O'Hern joins Jeff Maggert, Darren Clarke and Peter O'Malley in eliminating him from the match play.

Woods, never ahead, said: "He made all the putts he had to, and I didn't make any. That was the difference.

"Nick plods along. He's very solid and has an amazing short game."

But Ian Poulter won in convincing fashion. Seven under in beating Jim Furyk, Poulter finished six under this time after a magical run from the sixth.

A par five at the last was good enough for Luke Donald who went through to face O'Hern, while Poulter faced Sabbatini.

Sergio Garcia came from two down with four to play to beat Jerry Kelly, his first-round conqueror last year, at the 19th.