Woods, Stricker win, Mickelson eliminated

Sixteen players went home Thursday in the Accenture Match Play Championship.

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Victories came in all shapes and sizes in the Accenture Match Play Championship, whether it was an easy time for Tiger Woods, overtime for Steve Stricker or Phil Mickelson now getting to spend time with his kids.

Anything goes in this format, and 16 players went home Thursday, some in cruel fashion.

“Match play is an animal that’s all about the moment,” Woods said after his 3-and-2 victory over Arron Oberholser.

“It’s not about building toward Sunday. If you don’t play well, you’re going home.”

Or in the case of Mickelson, you can play great and still go home.

Lefty birdied his first two holes. He hit a 3-wood from 317 yards to 5 feet for eagle on the 635-yard fifth hole. He added three birdies in a four-hole stretch to start the back nine.

And he lost on the 17th hole to Stuart Appleby’s ninth birdie of the round.

“It was a good match, but unfortunately, I just didn’t shoot low enough,” Mickelson said before heading home to San Diego for a long weekend off. He has never made it past the quarterfinals.

K.J. Choi didn’t make a single birdie over his final 12 holes and finished his day at even par. He’ll be back today after winning in 19 holes over Ian Poulter, who again didn’t live up to his potential and played slightly worse.

Jonathan Byrd followed his 6-and-5 victory over Ernie Els with a 6-and-4 decision over Andres Romero of Argentina, meaning he has had to play only 27 holes in two rounds.

That’s almost a full round less than defending champion Henrik Stenson, who beat Trevor Immelman on the seventh extra hole.

Stricker delivered the dramatics against Presidents Cup teammate Hunter Mahan, closing with three straight birdies to win in 20 holes for the second straight day. Stricker made a 10-foot birdie on the 19th hole to stay in the match, then buried a birdie putt just inside 50 feet on the next hole to advance.

“I’m still playing. That’s the key to this event,” Stricker said. “The key is to be standing and going on to the next day, no matter how many holes it goes. I feel fortunate.”

David Toms had no fortune at all. His back flared up late in his first-round victory over Masters champion Zach Johnson, and the pain was such that he had to withdraw before facing Aaron Baddeley, giving the Australian a day off.

Next up for Baddeley is a third-round date with Woods.