Westwood thumped as Love shows no mercy

Davis Love today gave a dazzling display to send Lee Westwood out of the Accenture world match play championship at La Costa in California.

In five visits to the event now Westwood has never gone beyond the second round but he has never before had such a defeat as the seven and six hammering dished out by Love – it equalled the record margin.

Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh, meanwhile, had their work cut out to avoid following the British star through the exit door.

Winner the last two years, Woods trailed Australian Nick O’Hern by two at the turn, while world number one Singh was one down at the turn to 51-year-old Jay Haas.

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 to the short second.

But the American, runner-up to Woods last year, then moved into overdrive.

After Westwood 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, 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 holes 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 will prefer the second entry – he was thrashed by Darren Clarke two years ago.

Padraig Harrington led South African Rory Sabbatini by one after 10 holes.

Graeme McDowell, conqueror of fellow Irishman Clarke in the first round, went from two up after four to three down with seven to play against Australia’s Robert Allenby.