Singh not on song early

Against a man who had fired a championship record round of 60 yesterday, the last thing Vijay Singh wanted to do today was hand Ernie Els any holes on a plate.

But that is exactly what happened when their Cisco World Match Play semi-final began at Wentworth after a 30-minute frost delay.

Singh, who lost to Els in the 1996 final and then gained revenge in the 1997 final, bogeyed the first three holes and Els needed only to par them all to move into a three-up lead.

Sergio Garcia was not happy with his start against Michael Campbell either, angrily swishing his club after losing the first two holes.

And even when the 22-year-old Spaniard, who came from four down to beat Ryder Cup team-mate Padraig Harrington yesterday, eagled the 497-yard fourth with a six-iron to 10 feet New Zealander Campbell followed him in from nine to remain two-up.

It was Colin Montgomerie who was on the receiving end of Els’ brilliant performance in the quarter-finals, while Singh came from behind to knock out Retief Goosen.

A four-iron wide of the green was the start of Singh’s problems when play eventually began on a West Course which still had frost in the shaded areas.

Because of that placing was being allowed on the fairways, but that did not help the former Masters and US PGA champion as he left his chip 15 feet short, missed that, then found bunkers at the next two holes and failed to get up and down both times.

Between them he and Els have won all four major titles, Els adding the Open this summer to his two US Open crowns – both achieved at the expense of Montgomerie.

Garcia and Campbell are still seeking their first majors, but Garcia was the only player this season to finish in the top 10 of all four and Campbell is still remembered for leading the 1995 Open at St Andrews with a round to go when relatively unknown.

The sole remaining European in the event carved his first drive into the crowd, then played a poor chip eight feet short to lose the hole.

His tee shot to the 154-yard second landed on the green, but rolled back into the guarding bunker and although he played a fine recovery to three feet Campbell, conqueror already of Nick Faldo after a record 43 holes and defending champion Ian Woosnam by three and two, holed from four feet for a birdie two.