McGowan stuns Stricker in WGC

MARANA, Ariz., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Ross McGowan rolled in a long par putt Wednesday and knocked world No. 2 Steve Stricker out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

McGowan notched his 1-up victory with a putt of almost 30 feet on the first extra hole at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana.

Stricker was the only loser among four players seeded No. 1 in their brackets. The other top seeds are Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk and Martin Kaymer.

Westwood advanced with a 3-and-2 decision over Chris Wood, Furyk was a 2-and-1 winner over Scott Verplank and Kaymer defeated Chad Campbell 4-and-2.

Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy walloped Alexander Noren 7-and-5.

"I feel like I'm a good match player and I feel like if I get going and I'm playing well enough with a guy who's playing similarly I feel like I've really got a really good chance to win some of these matches," Ogilvy said.

Other winners in the opening round included Sean O'Hair, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Oliver Wilson, Anders Hansen, Ian Poulter, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Y.E. Yang, Ryo Ishikawa, Matt Kuchar, Thongchai Jaidee, Jeev Milkha Singh and Ben Crane, who advanced when his opponent, Henrik Stenson, withdrew because of illness after playing just one hole.

Losers included Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Hunter Mahan, Angel Cabrera and Lucas Glover.

The second and third rounds will be played Thursday and Friday, with the quarterfinals and semis Saturday and the 36-hole championship and consolation matches Sunday.