MARANA, Ariz., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Rickie Fowler sank Phil Mickelson with a slew of dramatic shots Thursday to join seven fellow Americans in the third round of the WGC Match Play Championship.
Martin Kaymer emerged as the only one of the four top seeds to make it past the second round while the youngest and oldest players in the field -- 17-year-old Matteo Manassero and 47-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez -- both advanced.
Fowler grabbed the spotlight, however, with a 6-and-5 victory over Mickelson in a battle of U.S. Ryder Cup teammates.
The match was even through four, after which Fowler won six of the next nine holes at the Ritz-Carlton Resort Dove Mountain course to dismiss Mickelson. Along the way Fowler hit his second shot at the par-4 eighth to within two feet for a birdie, holed out from off the green at the 10th and rolled in a 20-foot eagle putt at the 11th.
When Fowler's second shot at the par-5 13th finished only 2 feet from the cup another likely eagle, Mickelson conceded defeat.
Fowler will next meet Matt Kuchar, who produced one of a series of victories by American players who have in recent years toiled in the shadows of Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Kuchar, last year's leading money winner on the PGA Tour, defeated Bo Van Pelt 3-and-2; J.B. Holmes was a 1-up winner over Ernie Els; Bubba Watson rolled past Mark Wilson 6-and-5; Ryan Moore ousted K.J. Choi 5-and-4; and Hunter Mahan rallied on the back nine for a 2-up victory over Robert Karlsson.
In addition to those triumphs, Nick Watney edged world No. 1 Lee Westwood 1-up and Ben Crane put together a shocking 8-and-7 win over Rory McIlroy.
Crane birdied five holes on the front nine and was 7-up with eight to play when McIlroy hit a wild tee shot at the par-5 11th. McIlroy did not even bother hitting the ball again, conceding the match as the players stood in the middle of the fairway.
Two-time former champion Geoff Ogilvy reached the third round with a 1-up decision over Thomas Bjorn, who on Wednesday had knocked Woods out of the tournament.
