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VIRGINIA WATER, England - Eight-times European golf number one Colin Montgomerie suffered one of the heaviest defeats of his world match play career on Thursday when he lost 6 and 5 to old adversary Ernie Els.
"That's as good as I've driven the ball for a while around Wentworth," Els told reporters.
"I feel kind of sad beating Colin in the first round. If we could have played each other later in the tournament it could have been a really great match."
Six-times champion Els was joined in the quarterfinals by Argentine Angel Cabrera, who thrashed Retief Goosen 6 and 5, and holder Paul Casey of Britain, a 3 and 2 winner over American Jerry Kelly.
British Open champion Padraig Harrington went down 4 and 2 to Dane Anders Hansen. World number 11 Justin Rose was beaten 5 and 4 by American Hunter Mahan and Denmark's Soren Hansen eased past South African Rory Sabbatini 4 and 3.
Argentine Andres Romero was two up on Sweden's Niclas Fasth after 32 holes and American Woody Austin all square with Swede Henrik Stenson with one to play when darkness fell. Both matches resume tomorrow.
Early-morning fog delayed the start for nearly two hours before the haze lifted and most eyes turned to the battle of the heavyweights.
Els, who defeated Montgomerie twice in US Open playoffs and eclipsed the 44-year-old Briton in the 1994 match play final, was gifted a first-hole lead when his opponent three-putted.
That was all the encouragement the smooth-swinging world number five needed as he cruised to five up at lunch with a six-under morning round of 66.
Els made a hash of the 19th hole to open the door for a possible comeback but Montgomerie, who also lost 6 and 5 to the South African in the second round in 2002, slammed it shut again with bogeys at the second and third.
"I played rubbish, rubbish," said Montgomerie. "I was four over par and played poorly all day. The worse I played, the better Ernie became."
Elsewhere, Cabrera reproduced the form that won him the US Open at Oakmont in June by sweeping Goosen aside.
"I played a great game today," said the big-hitting Argentine after playing his 31 holes in 10 under par.
"Everything felt very good and I always love being here at Wentworth. From the moment I stepped on the first tee and hit my first shot down the middle I felt good."
Cabrera was two down after seven but a run of seven birdies in the last 11 holes of the morning round turned the contest on its head.
He next meets top seed Casey, who did not need to be at his best to dispose of Kelly.
"I played some nice golf this morning and started all right this afternoon but then I went a bit wayward and I feel very fortunate to be through to the next round," said the Englishman.
- REUTERS
