Date: February 23, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Day powers on in Arizona

Jason Day moved into the last 16 of the WGC Match Play Championship, while defending champion Hunter Mahan also won. Day won over 19 holes against Russell Henley, birdying the first extra hole to claim a one-up win. He will meet big-hitting American Bubba Watson, who was pushed to 22 holes against compatriot Jim Furyk. The pair split their first three additional holes when they each went par-bogey-par, before Furyk blinked to bogey. American Mahan never trailed in his 4 and 3 victory over South Africa&aposs Richard Sterne at Dove Mountain, booking a date with 2011 finalist Martin Kaymer. Germany&aposs Kaymer was similarly never behind in his 2 and 1 win over Spaniard Rafael Cabrera Bello. Rory McIlroy&aposs conqueror Shane Lowry ensured his first-round win over the top-ranked Northern Irishman was no fluke, as he thrashed Swede Carl Pettersson 6 and 5. Ireland&aposs Lowry will take on another Northern Irishman next, after Graeme McDowell saw off Alex Noren one up through 20 holes. American Webb Simpson accounted for Peter Hanson one up, while Tiger Woods&apos conqueror Charles Howell III fell to a heavy 6 and 5 defeat to Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. Robert Garrigus saw off the top seed in the Ben Hogan draw Louis Oosthuizen 3 and 2, and will meet Fredrik Jacobson in the final 16, after the Swede beat Australian Marcus Fraser 4 and 3. Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts eliminated second seed in Hogan&aposs quarter Justin Rose 4 and 2, while American Matt Kuchar defeated Sergio Garcia 2 and 1. Top seed in the Sam Snead draw, Luke Donald, was embarrassed 7 and 6 by Scott Piercy, while Steve Stricker pinched a one-up win over 21 holes against Nick Watney. England&aposs Ian Poulter progressed with a 3 and 1 win over Bo Van Pelt, and he will meet South Africa&aposs Tim Clark in the next round after he beat Thorbjorn Olesen 3 and 2.