Rose rises to challenge from Duval

Justin Rose once more demonstrated the inner strength he has gained from a sometimes turbulent young career by beating the former Open champion David Duval in the opening round of the Accenture World Matchplay. Rose finally won on his debut in the event at the 20th hole after one of the matches of the day at La Costa.

The 22-year-old Englishman found himself two-down after six holes but fought back to lead by two holes with three to play. Duval has struggled for form since winning the Open in 2001 but the class remains and birdies at the 16th and 17th brought the American back to all square.

The first playoff hole was one of the rare occasions that Rose missed the fairway and though he pitched brilliantly with his third shot he only survived when Duval also made bogey by missing from five feet. At the next, a par-three, Rose hit a six-iron to four feet and holed the putt for a birdie and victory after Duval had missed the green.

"I was wondering if I was going to be unemployed tomorrow at the first extra hole but I kept fighting," Rose said. "It was an up and down match but David showed his class at the 16th and 17th. It was a good lesson because I looked like winning the match comfortably and all of a sudden I was almost out."

Rose, who is staying in the States through to his debut at the Masters in April, felt his game had clicked after working with his coach, David Leadbetter, on Tuesday. Today he plays the defending champion Kevin Sutherland, who continued his giant-killing act by beating Sergio Garcia 2 and 1. Sutherland, seeded 60th, was three-down with six to play but won the next five holes in a row.

The biggest upset of the day, however, came when the second-seeded Ernie Els, the hottest player of the season to date, lost at the 20th hole to New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi, the 63rd seed, despite being one up with one to play. Tiger Woods did progress with a 2 and 1 win over Carl Pettersson.

There were comfortable victories for Ireland's Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington. Clarke, the former winner, beat South Africa's Tim Clark 4 and 3, while Harrington won his first match in four appearances in the tournament against John Cook by the same score.

Harrington was sent on his way by hitting his approach at the first, with a seven-iron, to two inches as he started with three birdies. From there on the eighth seed was in command. "It feels good to get past the first round," Harrington said. "John never missed a fairway all day and hit all the greens. I knew he was going to be steady and I had to get off to a good start. The more I play this week, the sharper I will get."

Colin Montgomerie departed in the first round for the third time in four attempts when he lost to Germany's Alex Cejka 3 and 2. Montgomerie, who missed the cut in his first event of the season last week in Los Angeles, missed a number of fairways and also four-putted at one point. "I didn't play very well, thanks," was Montgomerie's only comment.