Masters champion Jordan Spieth made a shock exit from the WGC-Cadillac Match Play after a narrow defeat to Lee Westwood.
Spieth and Westwood had both won their first two group matches at Harding Park, meaning the contest between the Ryder Cup rivals would decide which player advanced to the last 16.
Despite losing the first two holes, it was Westwood who completed an impressive victory on the 18th hole and keep alive his hopes of a first WGC title at the 51st attempt.
“It feels great, obviously," Westwood told Sky Sports 4. "There are no easy matches out here and I knew Jordan was going to be tough to beat.”
“I was sliding down the bannister at the start when two down after two, but I just had to regroup and fight back after that.
“Anything can happen and getting out of the group is one of the toughest things to do this week. Sometimes fate is out of your hands but fortunately I’ve won all three games and kept it in my hands.
“I’m very excited about tomorrow morning now. I’ll try and come out, play as good as I’ve played today and hole a few putts.”
The world No 2 drew first blood with a birdie on the par-five opening hole before a par was good enough to win the second, where both players found sand off the tee but only Spieth was able to get up and down.
Recovery
Westwood had taken advantage of a rare bogey from Spieth to reduce his deficit on the sixth, with a birdie on the ninth taking the 42-year-old back to all square against an opponent half his age.
Another stroke picked up on the 10th gave the Englishman the lead for the first time, but Spieth hit straight back with a 15-foot gain of his own at the next.
Last week’s Indonesian Masters winner looked like regaining the lead after a superb approach on the 15th, only for Spieth to chip in from short of the green and force Westwood to hole from six feet for a matching birdie.
It was Westwood's turn to chip in on the 16th, albeit only for a par after thinning a bunker shot and duffing his first chip, but a birdie on the 17th put him back in front and victory was assured when Spieth was unable to birdie the last.
Victory sets up an all-English second round clash with Danny Willett, who maintained his unbeaten start with a 1up win over compatriot Andy Sullivan.
Reflecting on his round, Willett told Sky Sports 4: “It’s been really good all round. Eventually, if you keep playing good golf eventually you’re going to usually come out on top.
“It’s a strange one, the Match Play. You can get a little bit too far ahead if you’re a couple up or get yourself down if you’re a couple down and we’ve hit a lot of good golf shots.”
Watch the WGC-Cadillac Match Play throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.