Rose eases into quarters

Justin Rose continued his fine form with an emphatic victory in the third round at the Accenture Match Play Championship .

A day after eliminating fourth seed Phil Mickelson from the World Golf Championships event, 36th seed Rose was just as impressive in a three and two trouncing of American Charles Howell, who only last Sunday won the Nissan Open to go to the top of the US PGA Tour money list.

After perfect weather for the first two days, conditions turned cold and windy for the third round, and birdies were hard to come by on the first few holes, which played into the teeth of the wind.

Rose did not make his first birdie until the par-three eighth, but he was already three up by then.

He subsequently rolled in a 25-foot birdie at the par-four ninth to go five up, and there was to be no heroic comeback from Howell, who won the 14th and 15th holes before Rose closed it out.

“Starting out into the wind, five or six really tough holes, I hit a lot of good iron shots and made some good pars,” said the recently married 26-year-old, who lives primarily in Florida, although he also owns a home at Putney Bridge.

“I realised, on the front nine anyway, par was going to be a good score.”

Fellow Englishman Paul Casey was also ahead, one up after 13 holes against American Shaun Micheel, the very player he hammered to win the final of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth last September.

It was not all good news for the British contingent, with Ian Poulter one down after 14 holes against South African Trevor Immelman. The winner of this match will meet Rose in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, top seed Tiger Woods was struggling against Australian Nick O’Hern, two down after 11 holes.

O’Hern did not exactly set the world on fire on the front nine, but Woods really struggled early, particularly with the driver.

Woods was four down after seven holes, but won the eighth and 11th holes with birdies to send a message that he was not going to go quietly.

Two years ago, O’Hern beat Woods in the second round. Woods is seeking his eighth consecutive win in a US PGA Tour-sanctioned event.