Ernie Els was the biggest name to fall by the wayside as twice winner Tiger Woods conjured a miraculous escape at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday.
Woods came from three down with five holes to play for a one-up victory over fellow American JB Holmes but fourth seed Els was hammered 6 & 5 by Jonathan Byrd, the fifth time he has lost in the event’s opening round in eight appearances.
American Byrd, world-ranked 63rd, reeled off six birdies in a flawless display at Dove Mountain’s Gallery Golf Club to end the match on the 13th green.
Three-times major winner Els contributed to his premature exit by making four bogeys in the first nine holes.
Top seed Woods, bidding for his eighth title in nine starts worldwide and his sixth in a row, struggled for most of the round before pulling off a spectacular Houdini-like escape.
Tournament champion at La Costa in 2003 and 2004, he reeled off three birdies in a row from the 14th to level the match before rolling in a 36-foot eagle putt on the 17th green to go ahead for the first time.
Holmes, who had never previously played in competition with the game’s leading player, narrowly missed an eight-footer to birdie the last and take the match into extra holes. "The way I was playing for most of the day, I should be headed home," Woods said. "I wasn't hitting the ball very well and I am very, very fortunate to make it into the next round.”
Important results: Padraig Harrington bt Jerry Kelly 4 & 3; Stewart Cink bt Miguel Angel Jimenez 4 & 3; Phil Mickelson bt Pat Perez 1-up; Niclas Fasth bt Richard Green 6 & 5; Boo Weekley bt Martin Kaymer 2 & 1; Colin Montgomerie bt Jim Furyk 3 & 2; Henrik Stenson bt Robert Allenby 1-up; Paul Casey bt Robert Karlsson 2-up.