Casey unbeaten record on the line

Paul Casey was in severe danger of seeing the end of his unbeaten record in the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

Winner on his debut last year and conqueror of American Jerry Kelly in the first round, Casey entered the last nine holes of his quarter-final four down to Angel Cabrera.

Argentina’s US Open champion went into lunch one up, resumed with a 20-foot birdie putt and then stretched his advantage further when Casey three-putted the 26th green and conceded the next.

What the Surrey golfer had to remember – and quickly – was that he had been three down after five holes at the start of their clash and had turned that into a one-hole lead after 15.

One semi-final looked certain to be second seed Ernie Els and Swede Henrik Stenson, seeking a notable double after winning the Accenture world match play title in Arizona in February.

They were both six up, Els against Argentina’s Andres Romero after 22 holes and Stenson against Dane Anders Hansen after 24 holes. He played the first 18 of those in a superb eight under par 64.

In the other game, meanwhile, American Hunter Mahan stood three up on Soren Hansen, the other Danish player to earn a place in the event, after 25 of the 36 holes.

Stenson and Romero had begun the day by finishing off their first round games. Stenson was all square with American Woody Austin with one to play and sank a 12-foot birdie putt to go through and Romero overcame Swede Niclas Fasth three and two.

Els and Stenson could go top of the European Order of Merit this weekend following the exits to top two Padraig Harrington and Justin Rose on the opening day.