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Micheel ousts Woods from HSBC Match Play

VIRGINIA WATER, England, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- PGA 2003 champ Shaun Micheel ousted Tiger Woods in the first round Thursday of the HSBC World Match Plan Championship at Virginia Water, England.

"Sometimes it's easier to play as the underdog," said Micheel, who went 5-under through 33 holes. "Tiger is so strong mentally, which makes him difficult to play in match play."

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Woods was 3-down after the first 18 holes was only able to trim the deficit by 2 as Micheel took a 4 and 3 decision. Woods led after the first two holes following a Micheel bogey on No. 1. Micheel evened the score on No. 3 with a birdie.

Micheel, who was runner-up to Woods in the PGA Championship, won the next three holes and kept Woods in check thereafter.

Also knocked out of the competition was Jim Furyk, bested 4 and 3 by Ryder Cup rookie Robert Karlsson of Sweden.

In other matches, Colin Montgomerie defeated David Howell, 1-up, Paul Casey routed Retief Goosen, 6 and 4, and Luke Donald made it four victories for European Ryder Cup team members with a 1-up win over Tim Clark.

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