Woods eases into third round as Mickelson exits

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) - Tiger Woods stayed on course for an eighth title in nine starts worldwide in Thursday's second round at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship as second seed Phil Mickelson was knocked out.

World number one Woods sealed a comfortable 3&2 win over fellow American Arron Oberholser but left-hander Mickelson was beaten 2&1 by 31st-seeded Stuart Appleby of Australia in a high-quality encounter.

Twice champion Woods, who fought back from three down with five holes remaining to edge big-hitting J.B. Holmes the previous day, rattled up five birdies in a flawless display.

The 32-year-old won the opening hole after Oberholser ended up in an unplayable lie in the desert scrub with his second shot and retained control for the rest of the match at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club.

"I played a lot better today, hit the ball well and even made a couple of putts early on," Woods told reporters.

"I never gave Arron a hole. He had to earn the holes and I didn't make a bogey today. Match play is an animal that's all about the moment, you'd better get off to a quick start and never give holes away."

Woods, tournament champion at La Costa in 2003 and 2004, will face Aaron Baddeley in the third round, the Australian having gained a bye after the withdrawal of American David Toms due to a back injury.

Mickelson charged two up after eagling the par-five fifth but Appleby hit back with four birdies round the turn before sealing victory on the 17th green.