American golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were among the first round players who have advanced at the Match Play Championship in Carlsbad, California.
Woods, the number one player in the world and the event's top seed overall, was one-down with two holes to play Wednesday against little-known John Rollins. But, Woods emerged with a one-up victory. Woods says the match play style is all about strategy.
"Well, you go out there and you give it your best. And I think what you are trying to do is put as much pressure as you can on your opponent, make him make mistakes," he says. " And I did not do that very well today. The only hole I really made him make a mistake was on 17. And 18 I put it up there [on the green] and gave myself a chance [to win]. And he just made a poor swing."
Mickelson, the second seed in his bracket, outlasted Englishman Lee Westwoood three-and-one at La Costa. Mickelson was one-down after eight holes against the 15th seed. But, he won the next three holes to take the lead for good.