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**truebluefan** · 02-23-2008, 11:32 AM

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) - Tiger Woods stayed on course for an eighth title in nine starts worldwide in Thursday's second round at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship as second seed Phil Mickelson was knocked out.

World number one Woods sealed a comfortable 3&2 win over fellow American Arron Oberholser but left-hander Mickelson was beaten by 31st-seeded Stuart Appleby of Australia 2&1.

Twice champion Woods, who fought back from three down with five holes remaining to edge big-hitting J.B. Holmes the previous day, rattled up five birdies in a flawless display.

The 32-year-old won the opening hole after Oberholser ended up in an unplayable lie in the desert scrub with his second shot and retained control for the rest of the match at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club.

"I played a lot better today, hit the ball well and even made a couple of putts early on," Woods told reporters.

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**truebluefan** · 02-23-2008, 11:33 AM

MARANA, Arizona, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods could recall just one similar birdie slug-fest in his career after beating Australia's Aaron Baddeley over 20 holes in Friday's third round at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
"The only other match that was similar to that was the Match Play against O'Meara in '98, at Wentworth," twice winner Woods told reporters after racking up 12 birdies to Baddeley's nine in a tight battle of shot-making at Dove Mountain.
Woods lost to good friend and fellow American Mark O'Meara by a hole in a fluctuating final of the 1998 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in south-east England.
"I think he was 11 under and I was 10 under. I thought that was a pretty good match."

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**truebluefan** · 02-23-2008, 11:34 AM

Just as in The Ryder Cup, Colin Montgomerie continued to be the scourge of the Americans as he led the European charge into the last 16 of the WGC – Accenture Match Play at The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson.

After dispatching Jim Furyk in Wednesday’s first round, the 44 year old put paid to the hopes of Furyk’s fellow countryman Charles Howell III on the final green of an enthralling contest to move into the third round where he will face his third American of the week, Stewart Cink, the conqueror of Open Champion Padraig Harrington in round two.

For a while it looked like Montgomerie himself might be in trouble when he reached the 13th hole one down but then produced sparkling golf to turn the match around.

A superb six iron tee shot to three feet on the short 14th levelled the match before he rolled in a 25 footer for birdie at the 15th to move one up, an advantage he held onto down the stretch before closing out the match on the home green.

“He was a very tough opponent and someone that hits the ball a lot longer than me so you have to factor that into the match as well,” said Montgomerie. “But I’m delighted with the win.

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**truebluefan** · 02-23-2008, 11:35 AM

Defending champion Henrik Stenson continued his quest to emulate World Number One Tiger Woods when he moved into the quarter-finals of the WGC – Accenture Match Play at The Gallery Golf Club in Arizona.

Woods is the only player to have won the Accenture Match Play title in two successive years – in 2003 and 2004 at La Costa – and now Stenson is only three matches away from emulating the feat having moved into the last eight with a hard fought one hole victory over American Jonathan Byrd in the third round.

The Swede will be joined in the last eight at the Tucson venue by two other European Tour Members – Angel Cabrera and Vijay Singh – who beat American Steve Stricker and Australian Rod Pampling respectively.

Stenson was never behind in the match against Byrd – who had not been taken past the 14th hole in either of his opening two rounds – and made his intentions crystal clear when he eagled the opening hole to immediately move one up.

But try as he might Stenson – who had to go to the 25th in the previous round to oust Trevor Immelman – could not shake off the American until a half in par fours on the final green, after a birdie on the 17th had put him one up in the match once again.

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**King Woods** · 02-23-2008, 08:55 PM

Is there anyone here willing to pick Stewart Cink over Tiger tomorrow? Anyone?

**truebluefan** · 02-24-2008, 06:28 PM

AUSTRALIAN Stuart Appleby beat world No. 2 Phil Mickelson yesterday to advance to the third round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona.

Appleby carded nine birdies in a magnificent performance.

"It was really good quality golf. The bottom line is I'm advancing. I don't get an extra pay cheque or bonus for beating Phil," said Appleby, who won 2 and 1 on a chilly day at Dove Mountain.

He joins compatriots Rod Pampling and Aaron Baddeley in the final 16.

But another sad putting performance cost Adam Scott dearly. Scott seemed in control of his match against American Woody Austin -- 2-up with four to play -- but his putter, so often the weak link in an otherwise impressive arsenal, let him down again.

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**truebluefan** · 02-24-2008, 06:29 PM

Colin Montgomerie gained a major confidence boost by beating American Jim Furyk 3&2 in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship first round on Wednesday.

The eight-times European number one came from one down after two holes, a run of three birdies in four holes from the 12th helping him seal victory on the 16th green.

"I'm very, very happy," a smiling Montgomerie told reporters after advancing into the second round of the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event for the fifth time in eight appearances.

"I believe Jim Furyk, after Tiger (Woods) really, is one of the U.S.'s strongest match players and the toughest guys to beat. His Ryder Cup record suggests that.

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**truebluefan** · 02-24-2008, 06:30 PM

Tiger Woods romped to his eighth title in nine tournament appearances by crushing fellow American Stewart Cink 8&7 in Sunday's final at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Four up after dominating the morning round, the world number one reeled off three consecutive birdies from the 24th hole before sealing victory with a sparkling approach to two feet for a conceded birdie on the 29th green.

It was his third triumph in 10 editions of the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) events and his sixth successive tournament win worldwide.

In claiming his 63rd PGA Tour title, Woods edged ahead of Arnold Palmer into fourth place in the all-time standings. Only Sam Snead (82), Jack Nicklaus (73) and Ben Hogan (64) have won more.