The appeal of the man is magnetic and, as the official on the third tee-box raised his arm and pointed furiously to the right while shouting "fore", it was immediately apparent that the crowds who had opted to watch two old-timers rather than the modern young guns were getting what they wanted.

In case you're in doubt, the tee-shot in question belonged to Seve Ballesteros - survivor of two cuts on the European Tour this season. - and, once the ball was discovered among the trees, the Spaniard revealed his adventurous mindset by opting to adopt a three-wood recovery that ricocheted off a branch and over to the far side of the fairway into the rough, narrowly missing some spectators en route.

Ballesteros had eight single putts over his 18 holes in his first round match against Sam Torrance, who had planned to act as a television commentator this week before the late call to replace Mike Weir in the field, and was only one-down at the break.

You can only visit so many trees around Wentworth and expect to remain in touching distance of victory, however, and Ballesteros' penchant for missing the fairways eventually had an effect as Torrance - who had never won a match in the World Matchplay in three previous appearances - carved out a 3 and 2 victory to set up a match against Vijay Singh.

Another so-called "old-timer" got a more unlikely scalp, with Ian Woosnam defeating US Open champion and European Tour money leader Retief Goosen by 4 and 3. He now plays Colin Montgomerie. Thomas Bjorn - a 4 and 3 winner over Adam Scott - meets defending champion Lee Westwood.

Head-to-head: Wentworth details

FIRST ROUND

Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) bt Adam Scott (Australia) 4 and 3

Ian Woosnam (Wales) bt Retief Goosen (South Africa) 4 and 3

Padraig Harrington (Ireland) bt Nick Faldo (England) 9 and 8

Sam Torrance (Scotland) bt Seve Ballesteros (Spain) 3 and 2

TODAY'S QUARTER-FINALS: Bjorn v Lee Westwood (England); Woosnam v Colin Montgomerie (Scotland); Harrington v Darren Clarke (Ireland); Torrance v Vijay Singh (Fiji).