Harrington out of World Match Play

Open champion Padraig Harrington has crashed out of the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth today - losing 4 and 2 to Anders Hansen.

He trailed the Danish golfer for much of the day, and could never muster the kind of comeback needed to keep his title dream alive.

Ernie Els admitted he felt "kind of sad" today - all because he hammered Colin Montgomerie.

On a day which also saw the exit Justin Rose - and two other games fail to finish - Montgomerie's six and five defeat matched his heaviest loss in 30 games at the event going back to 1991.

But second seed Els would rather they had not clashed so early.

"It was tough both of us playing together in the first round," said the South African, winner of the title a record six times already.

"We've had so much success around this course and in this event. I think it would have been a really great match later in the tournament."

His victory, however, keeps alive his hopes of a "Super Sunday". Els has plans to go South Africa's Rugby World Cup semi-final against Argentina in Paris, and since it starts at 8pm British time there would be time for him to fly from Surrey even if he is involved in the final and it goes the full distance.

"I do have a ticket and I will organise something," he said.

Montgomerie, the 1999 champion and three times the Volvo PGA champion round the West Course, did not try to put any gloss on his performance.

"I was just rubbish all day - rubbish," said the Scot, who has now come off second best in all three meetings with Els at the event and suffered one of his other two six and five defeats to him in 2002. The other was against Paul Casey in last year's semi-finals.

"I was four over par and three-putting the first green set the tone for the day.

"I spent three days practising my putting - in the rain, everything - then you come to the first green and three-putt. End of the day. That was it.

"It gives Ernie confidence and the worst I played the better he became. Very disappointing indeed."

Montgomerie is now in danger of falling back outside the world's top 50, which in turn would raise the possibility of him having to qualify for the majors next season.