G-Mac through, Clarke out

Graeme McDowell knew he was already through to the knock-out stages of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin yesterday ever before taking on South African Jbe Kruger.

So he was totally relaxed and played accordingly to win 4 and 3 and set up a clash in the last 16 this morning with Richard Finch, the Englishman who won the Irish Open at Adare in 2008 when tumbling into the River Maigue while playing a decisive third shot to the 18th.

Finch, who only got into the event through finishing 3rd in the Volvo China Open with the winner and runner-up already qualified, yesterday pulled off a shock final green victory over Martin Kaymer, the lowest ranked player in the field. The German, US PGA champion two years ago, has had a poor campaign so far and lost out yesterday when taking two to get out of a bunker at the 18th and then seeing his five foot putt for a half horseshoe out of the cup.