Westwood exits as seeds crash at Match Play Championship
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By Andrew Both
MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) - Second seed Lee Westwood was among the losers on a day of upsets in the second round at the $8.5 million Accenture Match Play Championship on Thursday.
Third-seeded American Jim Furyk, Germany's Martin Kaymer (4) and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (5) were also eliminated, following the first round defeat of top seed Steve Stricker at Dove Mountain.
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That left sixth-seeded Briton Paul Casey the highest ranked player through to the final 16 of the World Golf Championships event.
Westwood fell 2&1 against 31st-seeded American Nick Watney, while defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia was bundled out 2&1 by Colombia's Camilo Villegas.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa were among the few big names to advance. Retief Goosen knocked out fellow South African Ernie Els at the 20th hole.
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"I would say (hole) 14 was a turning point," Watney told reporters. "He holed a bunker shot out for eagle on the 13th and I was able to birdie the next hole. That really kind of gained my momentum back."
Garcia worked hard to beat Dane Anders Hansen 2&1.
"It's a funny tournament this match play, because some years you come here you feel like you're playing unbelievable and you get beaten in the first and second round," Garcia told reporters.
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"And some years you don't feel quite as great and you somehow manage to get it around.
"But I still need to get a lot better, to get rid of some of the shots I'm hitting out there."
Casey expressed delight with his form after thumping Canadian Mike Weir 5&4, a day after Weir had won his opening match by an even bigger margin, 8&6.
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"I didn't expect that score today," said the Briton, last year's runner-up.
"Mike Weir's score card yesterday was fantastic. I read nine birdies out of 10 holes and I expected him to do the same today.
"I didn't see any reason why Mike would struggle today, but luckily for me he did."
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In beating Ogilvy, who had an 18-2 record in this event thanks to two wins and a runner-up finish in the past four years, Villegas claimed perhaps the day's biggest scalp.
"Geoff obviously has a great record and he beat me last year," the Colombian said.
"As players, we don't forget those things, so last night I went to bed (thinking) it's my turn.
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"I was patient the entire match. I've been working hard on my attitude and I think patience at the end of the day won the match."
(Editing by Ian Ransom)