Golf: Ross heroics lost to Tiger

HAVING replaced Tiger Woods in the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona this week, England's Ross McGowan still found himself overshadowed by the World No.1 on the opening day.

McGowan might have expected big headlines for knocking out top seed Steve Stricker last night with a birdie putt of nearly 30 feet on the first extra hole at Dove Mountain. It was one of the best performances of the 27-year-old's career, but it came on the day that Woods announced he will finally break his silence tomorrow.

Nothing that happened in Tucson was going to top that as a story in the eyes of most newspapers and it will be the same, of course, when Woods reads a statement which will include a public apology and probably a date for his return to the game.

McGowan, though, merely has thoughts for this event and in today's second round he will take on Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa. "I would say I fancied my chances – and I could go all the way," he said. "I had a shaky start, but then played really nicely and it was quite exciting when that one dropped on 19."

Runner-up to Lee Westwood at the Dubai World Championship in November, the former English amateur champion is only the second bottom seed to beat the top seed at the Match Play. Eight years ago Woods lost to Australian Peter O'Malley.

Stricker won on the US Tour only two weeks ago and with it went to World No.2. He said: "

It can happen to anybody and that's just the nature of it. He putted it really good coming in and scared the hole a bunch of times."