Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia posted emphatic victories as the European contingent made a strong start in the first round at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona.
Harrington built a big lead on a cool morning with six birdies in the first 12 holes against American Jerry Kelly. The Open champion subsequently closed it out for a four-and-three victory, another confidence-boosting performance .
"I got the start I wanted [two up after four holes] and from there on I felt solid and kept moving forward," said Harrington, who recently suffered a dose of flu as well as a minor bout of shingles.
"Jerry obviously had to go after the pins and was under more pressure in that sense," he added.
"I don't believe I am quite on the top of my game. I'm not feeling as comfortable as I could when I'm on the course. I'm working hard for everything I'm getting. I'm still a little bit uncompetitive, a bit rusty (but) I'm happy with the form I showed today."
Garcia, out in the day's first match, took an early lead and was never seriously threatened as he cruised to a three-and-two victory over Australian John Senden.
Carrying two putters in his bag as a "safety net", Garcia used a short one for the first 14 holes, before dusting off the longer 'belly' putter for the final two holes.
"I made a decision early on and went with (the short putter) for pretty much the whole round," he said. "But then I started not feeling as comfortable, and hit a couple of not-very-good putts — so I decided to go the safe route on the last couple of holes."
Explaining his decision to carry two putters, and leave a three-iron out of his bag, Garcia continued: "You can call it a safety net, just in case. I didn't feel quite as comfortable.
"At the end of the day, I liked the things we worked on with my putting yesterday — but I still have a little work to do. The putting green is different to when you're out there in the heat of battle and the pressure is on."
Garcia has a lacklustre record in this World Golf Championships event, never advancing past the third round in six attempts.
"I feel I should have done better (in the past), but it's a funny format," he said.
It was not all good news for Europe, as highly-rated young German Martin Kaymer bowed out — beaten two and one by American Boo Weekley, who earned a second-round match against Garcia.
Another European advanced to the final 32 when Niclas Fasth dusted off hapless Australian Richard Green six and five.
WGC-Accenture Match Play results
Sergio Garcia (Spa) bt John Senden (Aus) 3 & 2
Boo Weekley bt Martin Kaymer (Ger) 2 & 1
Padraig Harrington(Irl) bt Jerry Kelly 4 & 3
Stewart Cink bt Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 4 & 3
Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) Lost to Woody Austin 6 & 5
Ian Poulter (Eng) bt Soren Hansen (Den) 2 & 1
Adam Scott (Aus) bt Brendan Jones (Aus) 2 & 1
Niclas Fasth (Swe) bt Richard Green (Aus) 6 & 5
Vijay Singh (Fij) bt Peter Hanson (Swe) at the 19th hole
Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) Lost to Bradley Dredge (Wal) 4 & 3
KJ Choi (Kor) bt Camilo Villegas (Col) 3 & 2
Jim Furyk Lost to Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 3 & 2
Zach Johnson Lost to David Toms 2 & 1
Aaron Baddeley (Aus) bt Mark Calcavecchia 4 & 2
Trevor Immelman (Rsa) bt Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 1 up
Luke Donald (Eng) bt Nick Dougherty (Eng) 2 & 1
Ernie Els (Rsa) Lost to Jonathan Byrd 6 & 5
Henrik Stenson (Swe) bt Robert Allenby (Aus) 1 up
Angel Cabrera (Arg) bt Anders Hansen (Den) 3 & 2
Paul Casey (Eng) bt Robert Karlsson (Swe) 2 up
Justin Rose (Eng) Lost to Rodney Pampling (Aus) 2 & 1
Stephen Ames (Can) Lost to Charles Howell III at the 19th hole
Scott Verplank Lost to Nick O'Hern (Aus) 3 & 2
