Woods battles through in Arizona

WGC Match Play Championship
Venue: The Gallery at Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona
Dates: 20-24 February

World number one Tiger Woods produced a superb late surge to come through his WGC World Match Play Championship first-round match against JB Holmes.

Woods was three down with five holes to play but a run of three birdies and a 36-foot eagle gave him the lead.

And Holmes missed a birdie putt at the last to hand Woods a one-hole victory.

Britain's Colin Montgomerie also progressed in Arizona, beating Jim Furyk 3&2 but Justin Rose lost 2&1 to Australia's Rod Pampling.

Rose and Nick Dougherty, who lost 2&1 to compatriot Luke Donald, were the only Britons to lose.

"It was one of those lucky times where everything just happened to turn my way at the right time - I'm very, very fortunate to advance to the second round"
Tiger Woods

Ian Poulter beat Soren Hansen, Paul Casey hit nine birdies as he saw off Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood triumphed against Brandt Snedeker and Bradley Dredge was too strong for Rory Sabbatini.

Open champion Padraig Harrington beat Jerry Kelly to seal his progress and world number two Phil Mickelson edged past Pat Perez - but fourth seed Ernie Els was thumped 6&5 by Jonathan Byrd.

It had looked like Woods would join Els in being a big-name casualty on the opening day at Tucson until his remarkable late comeback.

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The big-hitting Holmes was only playing because of an injury to Brett Wetterich but Woods admitted he was lucky to progress.

Woods said: "I was not hitting the ball very well most of the day, so I was very fortunate to be in the match.

"I made three bogeys and gave him three holes, but somehow hit a good shot there at 14 and made the putt.

"It was one of those lucky times where everything just happened to turn my way at the right time. I'm very, very fortunate to advance to the second round."

Wednesday's first round results:

Sergio Garcia (Spa) v John Senden (Aus)
Garcia won 3&2

Martin Kaymer (Ger) v Boo Weekley (US)
Weekley won 2&1

Padraig Harrington (Ire) v Jerry Kelly (US)
Harrington won 4&3

Stewart Cink (US) v Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa)
Cink won 4&3

KJ Choi (Kor) v Camilo Villegas (Col)
Choi won 3&2

Ian Poulter (Eng) v Soren Hansen (Den)
Poulter won 2&1

Vijay Singh (Fij) v Peter Hanson (Swe)
Singh won at 19th hole

Niclas Fasth (Swe) v Richard Green (Aus)
Fasth won 6&5

Adam Scott (Aus) v Brendan Jones (Aus)
Scott won 2&1

Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) v Woody Austin (US)
Austin won 6&5

Jim Furyk (US) v Colin Montgomerie (Sco)
Montgomerie won 3&2

Stephen Ames (Can) v Charles Howell (US)
Howell won at 19th hole

Rory Sabbatini (SA) v Bradley Dredge (Wal)
Dredge won 4&3

Paul Casey (Eng) v Robert Karlsson (Swe)
Casey won 2up

Justin Rose (Eng) v Rod Pampling (Aus)
Pampling won 2&1

Scott Verplank (US) v Nick O'Hern (Aus)
O'Hern won 3&2

Henrik Stenson (Swe) v Robert Allenby (Aus)
Stenson won 1up

Trevor Immelman (SA) v Shingo Katayama (Jpn)
Immelman won 1up

Angel Cabrera (Arg) v Anders Hansen (Den)
Cabrera won 3&2

Luke Donald (Eng) v Nick Dougherty (Eng)
Donald won 2&1

Zach Johnson (US) v David Toms (US)
Toms won 2&1

Aaron Baddeley (Aus) v Mark Calcavecchia (US)
Baddeley won 4&2

Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) v Justin Leonard (US)
Leonard won 2&1

Lee Westwood (Eng) v Brandt Snedeker (US)
Westwood won 3&2

Ernie Els (SA) v Jonathan Byrd (US)
Byrd won 6&5

Retief Goosen (SA) v Andres Romero (Arg)
Romero won 2&1

Steve Stricker (US) v Daniel Chopra (Swe)
Stricker won at 20th hole

Richard Sterne (SA) v Hunter Mahan (US)
Mahan won 4&3

Tiger Woods (US) v JB Holmes (US)
Woods won 1up

Mike Weir (Can) v Arron Oberholser (US)
Oberholser won 3&1

Phil Mickelson (US) v Pat Perez (US)
Mickelson won 1up

Stuart Appleby (Aus) v Tim Clark (SA)
Appleby won 3&2

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