Golf: Singh, Woods win but 2000 champion Clarke goes out

Title holder Tiger Woods and world number one Vijay Singh cruised to first-round victories at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship today, while 2000 winner Darren Clarke made an early exit.

After days of lashing rain delayed the start of the US$7.5 ($10.50) million event by 24 hours, play finally began at the La Costa Resort and Spa under more typical southern Californian sunshine.

Woods, bidding for a third consecutive crown here and a return to the top of the world rankings, eased past Zimbabwe's Nick Price 4 & 3 to extend his unbeaten run in the tournament to 13 matches and take his overall record to a sparkling 21-3.

Price, a three-times major winner, represented a potentially tricky test but the world number two went one up at the opening hole and never trailed.

"Today was most important to get off to a quick start and I was able to do that," said Woods, who now meets Australia's Nick O'Hern.

"Nick gave me the first hole (by carding a bogey five) and I was able to stick it out. "

Singh, who has never progressed beyond the second round here in five attempts, opened his campaign by crushing Japan's Shingo Katayama 4 & 3.

The tall Fijian will this year almost certainly have to venture into uncharted territory if he is to maintain his hold on the world number one spot.

Woods will return to the top if he finishes third and Singh loses in round two, or if the 29-year-old American is runner-up to anyone but the Fijian.

Next up for Singh is American Jay Haas, a dangerous opponent who reached the quarter-finals two years ago.

"I don't think it's me, I think the other guy I played did better than me," said Singh when asked why he has never been beyond round two.

"I'm just looking forward to tomorrow. I don't think I'll have a problem."

Riding the momentum from back-to-back wins at the recent Phoenix Open and Pebble Beach Pro-Am, world number four Phil Mickelson beat fellow American Loren Roberts 3 and 1 while world number five Retief Goosen of South Africa edged Australia's Stephen Leaney by one hole.

Canada's Mike Weir, the world number nine, suffered a surprise one-hole defeat by American Kirk Triplett but Graeme McDowell registered the biggest upset, birdying the final hole to oust former champion and fellow Northern Irishman Clarke one up.

Clarke, who beat Woods in the 2000 final, arrived with a 14-4 record here and the 12th seed was again expected to challenge for the title.

"I played poorly, I got what I deserved," said Clarke as he trudged off the 18th green.

Spain's Sergio Garcia was a 4 & 2 winner over Germany's Alex Cejka while Adam Scott of Australia followed up his victory at last week's Nissan Open with a two-up triumph over South Africa's Trevor Immelman.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington disposed of 1999 winner Jeff Maggert one up.

Due to the problems created by the heavy rain, the players face a marathon session on Friday with the second and third rounds being staged to get the tournament back on schedule.

- REUTERS