Dredge pegs back Poulter

Bradley Dredge clawed back to square up his match against Ian Poulter in the second round of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona today.

In an all-British showdown, Poulter bounced to an early two-up lead, but Dredge almost holed his second shot to win the par-four ninth with a birdie.

He had another conceded birdie to win the par-four 12th and tie things up in benign conditions on a delightful day at Dove Moutain.

In the day’s other all-British duel, Paul Casey jumped to a two-up lead after three holes against Colin Montgomerie in the World Golf Championships event.

Casey used his prodigious length to win the par-five first with a birdie, and also won the par-three third when Montgomerie missed a six-footer for par after missing the green with his tee shot.

In another match, Irishman Padraig Harrington dug himself into a deep hole as he fell three down after just five holes against American Stewart Cink.

Cink did not do anything special, but five consecutive pars was all he needed as Harrington ran up three straight bogeys starting at the second hole.

Jose Maria Olazabal was playing perhaps the best golf of the day, picking up five birdies in a sizzling front nine.

However, he was only one-up against defending champion Geoff Ogilvy, of Australia, in a match of the highest quality.

Sweden’s Niclas Fasth was also on fire, collecting two eagles and three birdies in 10 holes to take a commanding three-up lead over South African Retief Goosen.

Englishman Luke Donald was also ahead, two-up after nine holes in a spirited battle between two of the game’s best young players.

Phil Mickelson drew first blood against Justin Rose, one-up after four holes, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia and American Charles Howell were all square through four holes.

Top seed Tiger Woods wasted no time stamping his authority against South African Tim Clark, going two-up through two holes.