Rory McIlroy crashed out of the Accenture Match Play to Oliver Wilson, while there were wins for Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter.
Wilson sees off Northern Irish tyro after extra holes
Rory McIlroy crashed out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play after an extra holes defeat to Oliver Wilson, but there were convincing second round wins for Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter.
McIlroy was some way from his best throughout a see-saw encounter, but showed good temperament on the 18th green to hole an eight-footer that forced sudden death.
The Northern Irish youngster came within a whisker of winning the match on the 19th green, but saw his birdie putt just slide past the hole with Wilson having already settled for par.
But, having fought back from four down against Kevin Na on Wednesday, McIlroy's luck ran out at the next as he paid the price for finding sand with his drive at the par-five second.
Wilson saw a great chip for eagle lip out, but it mattered not as his opponent was unable to match his birdie.
Donald and Casey both enjoyed far more comfortable triumphs as they saw off Robert Allenby and Mike Weir respectively.
Donald was the first man through to the final 16 as he handed out a 6&5 drubbing to Australian Robert Allenby.
Having moved ahead early on, the Englishman always maintained a stranglehold on proceedings and ended the contest without a bogey on his card.
"(It was) another solid day. Five birdies, no bogeys. I picked off the par-fives and Robert didn't quite have his game. He didn't put too much pressure on me," he commented.
"I'm drawing on the confidence of the last few weeks. This is my fourth in a row, so to finish as quickly as possible is good for me."
Fast start
Casey notched a similarly comprehensive success against Weir, running out a 5&4 winner having taken the first four holes against his Canadian rival.
Casey conceded afterwards that he had been somewhat fortunate to catch Weir - who beat Alvaro Quiros 8&6 on Wednesday - on an off day.
"I didn't see any reason why Mike would struggle, but he did," Casey said. "The start was key - I was very surprised to be four up after four.
"Conserving energy is always a big one. When my legs get tired it affects my swing. Peter Kostis (his American coach) told me to go back to the hotel and relax when I finished yesterday, so I went back and worked out!"
Ian Poulter ensured there was further English success as he finished strongly to chalk up a 2&1 win over Australian Adam Scott, but the news of Lee Westwood was not so good as he fell to a 2&1 defeat to Nick Watney.
Ogilvy out
Indeed, just as one day one in Tucson, there were plenty of shocks on Thursday with defending champion and twice winner Geoff Ogilvy one of the casualties along with in-form German Martin Kaymer.
Ogilvy succumbed to Colombian Camilo Villegas 2&1 having led on a couple of occasions, while Kaymer always trailed as he was eventually soundly beaten 3&2 by Tim Clark of South Africa.
Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa continued to impress on his debut as he got the better of top seed Steve Stricker's conqueror Ross McGowan.
Ishikawa produced another polished display as to win by two holes, while Asia will have two more representatives in the final 16 as Thongchai Jaidee beat Robert Karlsson (4&3) and Jeev Milkha Singh overcame Matt Kuchar by one hole.
Retief Goosen won the battle of the South African multiple-major champions, edging out Ernie Els at the 20th hole.
There were also victories for Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Stewart Cink Ben Crane and Brian Gay.
