MARANA, Arizona: Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and holder Ian Poulter made early exits as the opening round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship lived up to its reputation of wild unpredictability Wednesday. There were 14 upsets in all from the 32 matches at Dove Mountain's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, fulfilling world No. 1 Lee Westwood's pre-tournament description of the first day as “one of the most exciting days of the year”. Three-time champion Woods, striving to end a winless run of 15 months, was eliminated by 65th-ranked Dane Thomas Bjorn after 19 holes. “I blew it,” the 14-time major winner said greenside after going out in the first round for a second time at this event. American world No. 8 Stricker, who claimed the 2001 Match Play title in Australia, was stunned by 17-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero 2&1. Poulter, who beat fellow Englishman Paul Casey 4&2 in last year's final to claim his first PGA Tour victory, was beaten by American Stewart Cink after 19 holes. A tournament record eight matches went into extra holes but three of the top four seeds ensured a measure of normalcy with comfortable victories on a day of dazzling sunshine, cool temperatures and gusting winds in the Arizona desert. Top-seeded Briton Westwood never trailed in his match before beating 2007 champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden 3&2. Second-ranked German Martin Kaymer completed a 7&6 demolition of South Korean Noh Seung-yul and fourth seed Phil Mickelson breezed past Australian Brendan Jones 6&5. Woods appeared to hold the momentum in his match with Bjorn after sinking an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-four 18th to force extra holes. However, he pushed his next drive way right into desert scrub from where he needed two shots to get back out onto the fairway. He struck his fourth to 18 feet and missed the bogey putt before conceding the match to Bjorn. In other matches, US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hammered American Heath Slocum 4&3, Irishman Rory McIlroy swept aside American Jonathan Byrd 4&2 and Briton Justin Rose won a tight battle with American Zach Johnson 2&1. South African Ernie Els came from three down after three holes to beat American Jeff Overton on the 19th green and Ryan Palmer reached the second round with a surprise two-up win against fellow American Jim Furyk. Arimura leads in Singapore Japan's Chie Arimura overcame strong winds to shoot a 4-under 68 and take a one stroke lead after the first round of the HSBC Women's Champions Thursday. Korea's Na Yeon Choi shot a 69, while world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan finished the day in a group of four players with 70 to remain in contention at the Tanah Merah Country Club. American Natalie Gulbis finished 1 under, while countrywoman Michelle Wie was 1 over. Tseng is seeking to win her fourth straight tournament in as many weeks. The $1.4-million Women's Champions features a field of 63 golfers, including all of the 2010 major champions and last year's LPGA tournament winners.
