Clarke faces dawn shoot-out with Faldo

Darren Clarke and Nick Faldo face an early morning sudden death shoot-out today to decide who plays Masters champion Vijay Singh in the quarter-finals of the Cisco World Matchplay championship at Wentworth.

Over nine hours after they first teed off, Clarke missed a five-foot birdie putt on the final green which meant that the first round clash of the former Ryder Cup team-mates spilled into a second day.

There was no time left to go straight into extra holes because of an earlier 80-minute interruption for rain, hail and lightning.

Faldo, back in the event for the first time since 1994, and Clarke will be on the first tee again at 8 a.m. to settle things.

"I'm disappointed to have three-putted two of the last three greens, but the rain had slowed them down," commented Clarke, while a reprieved and relieved Faldo headed straight for food and rest.

It looked as if it was going to be a case of the power and the glory for Clarke after he had come to the last two holes one down.

Faldo had feared that the Irishman's extra length would make a significant difference and so it proved at the 571-yard 17th.

He smacked a drive and majestic three-wood to eight feet and did not even have to attempt his eagle putt to get back level.

When he was on the edge of the green in two and Faldo well short at the 531-yard last Clarke held high hopes of going through. But he left his long first putt - all of 70 feet - that crucial five feet short and after Faldo had just missed with a 20-foot birdie attempt from the fringe he failed to get the right combination of pace and line.

After looking at the match referee to see if he wanted them to head to the first tee they were told that was it for the day and shook hands.

Faldo had lunched three up after a four under par 68, but handed the initiative over by three-putting three of the first five holes when they set off again.

Clarke took advantage and birdies at the 24th and 25th put him ahead for the first time.

He could have gone three up with eight to go, but missed from six feet for a win at the 27th and did the same to lose the next after Faldo had chipped in from 25 feet.

Although Clarke made a 12-footer to nose in front again at the 29th, a missed three-footer on the next brought them back all square and three putts from only 15 feet four holes later gave Faldo the edge once more.

There were three winners in the day - Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen.

In the only match to finish before the hold-up Harrington gave himself the chance of revenge by thrashing American Bob May six and five - and that after standing three down when May opened with a dazzling front nine 30.

Harrington now plays defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who trounced him 7 and 6 in last year's semi-finals.

"I was burnt out by the time I played Monty then," said the 29-year-old.

"I played my best in the first round, well the next day and then didn't play well against Monty."

Before going off for a massage Harrington spoke about what he expects against Europe's number one for the last seven seasons.

"You know you are going to have a match. There's an expectation that he is going to play at a certain level and that puts you under pressure.

"If he plays well you know you are going to be in trouble. You try to play your own game - that's the best way to deal with that."

Europe are certain of at least two semi-finalists because number three seed Lee Westwood faces Garcia.

In the battle of the two 20-year-olds Garcia, almost an old hand in the professional game compared to Adam Scott, defeated the Australian 2 and 1. The other quarter-final today will be an all-South African tussle - world number two and three-time winner Ernie Els against his Dunhill Cup-winning team-mate Goosen.

Behind by one on four separate occasions in the first 10 holes against Thomas Bjorn, Goosen was a model of steadiness as he emerged a five and four victor just after the storm delay.

His only bogey came at the very first hole of the match and he was 10 under par when the game ended with an 18-foot putt - his fourth birdie in the last six holes.