Paul Casey, of England, rips a fairway bunker shot on the 14th hole during his 5 and 4 victory over Mike Weir in the second round of the Match Play Championship golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, in Marana, Ariz. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The often-unpredictable Match Play Championship more than lived up to its reputation in a topsy-turvy second round at Dove Mountain on Thursday. An event already minus Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson sent several of the world's best to an early exit.
Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy — seeded second through fifth — were among the losers. Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy was beaten by Camilo Villegas, 2 and 1. Top-seeded Steve Stricker lost Wednesday in the first round.
The highest remaining seed is England's Paul Casey at No. 6. Casey, the runner-up a year ago who won the World Match Play Championship in England in 2006, swiftly dispatched Canadian Mike Weir, 5 and 4.
The field was narrowed to 16 for the third round Thursday on the sun-drenched desert course near Tucson. Woods, obviously, skipped the event because of his personal woes, and Mickelson is on vacation with his family.
Nick Watney beat the second-seeded Westwood 2 and 1, Charl Schwartzel topped the third-seeded Furyk 3 and 2, and Tim Clark beat the fourth-seeded Kaymer 3 and 2.
The closest two matches of the day went 20 holes, with Oliver Wilson beating the fifth-seeded McIlroy, and Retief Goosen edging South African countryman Ernie Els. Sergio Garcia advanced, beating Peter Hanson 2 and 1.
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