Golf Events / Editor / 23 February 2007 /

Justin Rose is through to the third round of the WGC Match Play Championship after an impressive 3&1 win over Phil Mickelson.

The Englishman, who defeated Michael Campbell in the opening round, outplayed the world number three in Tucson.

Rose pinpointed a 35-foot birdie putt at the 15th as the crucial factor in his success, admitting "that putt is the first long putt I've made all week."

"It was a nip-and-tuck game and I finally got my nose in front coming down the back nine."
Rose will now play American Charles Howell III, after his equally impressive 4&3 win over Sergio Garcia.

Other big names to fall on Thursday included Jim Furyk (beaten by Chad Campbell), Retif Goosen (defeated by Niclas Fasth), Vijay Singh (lost to Stephen Ames) and Colin Montgomerie (defeated by Paul Casey).

Woods is 2.66 to lift the Match Play trophy, with Paul Casey now the 11.5 second favourite to claim the title.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy can be backed at 14, while David Toms is available at 15.
Rose, having traded at 140 earlier in the tournament, is trading at 25 with fellow Englishman Ian Poulter available at 34.

Third round matches:
Justin Rose v Charles Howell III Ian Poulter v Trevor Immelman
Shaun Micheel v Paul Casey Niclas Fasth v Geoff Ogilvy
Tiger Woods v Nick O'Hern Aaron Baddeley v Henrik Stenson
Chad Campbell v David Toms Stephen Ames v Stewart Cink

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