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Montgomerie shines with Match Play win

  • Story Highlights
  • Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie through in Arizona
  • Montgomerie triumphed three and two against U.S. Ryder Cup rival Jim Furyk
  • Tiger Woods among last out at the Match Play Championship in Marana
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MARANA, Arizona -- Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie posted emphatic victories as the European contingent made a strong start in the first round at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona.

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Montgomerie strides out in front on his way to victory over Furyk in the first round of the Match Play Championship.

Spaniard 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 on a cool morning at Dove Mountain.

Open champion Harrington built a big lead with six birdies in the first 12 holes against American Jerry Kelly -- finally claiming a four and three success -- while Montgomerie triumphed three and two against Ryder Cup rival Jim Furyk.

Montgomerie, the 59th seed, used his vast match play experience, and more than a touch of ability, to outlast sixth seed Furyk.

The 44-year-old said: "I am very, very happy. Jim was a very tough opponent to draw, I believe he's one of the U.S's strongest match players.

"But I played particularly well today, well enough to win. I enjoyed seeing where my game is."

Montgomerie and Furyk have similar games, both straight but not very long off the tee, and that seemed to suit the Scot.

"I think he outdrove me as much as I outdrove him," added Montgomerie, who rated the 12th hole as the most pivotal.

"He had just birdied the 11th hole to get back to one down, and then at the 12th I had a difficult chip and got up-and-down and he didn't. It's amazing how pivotal that was, to get back to two up."

Montgomerie, who has played in eight Ryder Cups, believes his vast experience in that high pressure environment can only help in the current event.

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."

Garcia has a lackluster 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.

Harrington said after his win: "I got the start I wanted -- two up after four holes -- and from there on I felt solid and kept moving forward.

The Irishman recently suffered a dose of flu as well as a minor bout of shingles and 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."

Highly-rated young German Martin Kaymer bowed out beaten two and one by American Boo Weekley who earned a second-round match against Garcia.

Niclas Fasth dusted off hapless Australian Richard Green six and five, Paul Casey ousted Robert Karlsson two up, but Justin Rose went down to Rodney Pampling two and one. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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