Thomas Björn avenged his 2012 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship first round defeat to Francesco Molinari as the 2014 edition began in Arizona.
The Dane was knocked out by Italy’s Molinari at the 20th hole two years ago, but this time progressed 2 and 1 against the same opponent to reach round two for only the second time in ten years.
“It's not very nice to come into this tournament and play your good friends in the first round, but that happens,” said Race to Dubai leader Björn, who now goes on to face American Jordan Spieth. “It was obviously you go out and play golf and try to win the match you play in.
“I played nice today. I was bit rusty as I’ve been sick for a couple weeks. Coming in, I didn't have really good preparation, so it was a bit rusty early on.
“There was a little bit of trying to get over the line in the end, but I got it done. I played some really good stuff in the middle there.
“Francesco never goes away - that's one thing you have got to give him. He stuck in there; every time I got to two up, he would have a great shot on the hole after and got himself back to one, so it was a tight match and it could have swung both ways. He probably didn't putt as well as he would have liked to.”
Another Ryder Cup star, Ian Poulter, suffered his third first round exit in four years.
Poulter, who won the title in 2010, lost 2 and 1 to American Rickie Fowler, who led from the fourth hole onwards and will now face compatriot Jimmy Walker in the second round.
Walker, who has already won three times in the 2014 PGA Tour season, secured the first victory of the day with a comfortable 5 and 4 win over South African Branden Grace.
Finland's Mikko Ilonen had looked like creating a shock when he led Bubba Watson by two holes with six to play, but lost the next three holes and Watson - who claimed his first win since the 2012 Masters in the Northern Trust Open on Sunday - sealed a 2 and 1 win on the 17th.
Defending champion Matt Kuchar also advanced to the second round, but only after having to win his match with Austria's Bernd Wiesberger twice.
Kuchar thought he had sealed a 5 and 4 win on the 14th, but had failed to move his ball marker back to its correct position before holing his birdie putt. That cost him the hole and meant the match continued, but the World Number Ten still had a three-hole cushion and eventually won 3 and 2.
There was better news elsewhere for two more of the 25-strong European contingent, with Peter Hanson beating Dustin Johnson 4 and 3 - the World Number Eight's fifth first round loss in six years - to set up a meeting with France's Victor Dubuisson, who saw off Kevin Streelman 5 and 4.
Sweden's Jonas Blixt moved into the last 32 with a 2 and 1 win over former US PGA Champion Keegan Bradley and South African George Coetzee saw off Steve Stricker 3 and 1. Stricker's participation in the event had been in serious doubt until his brother underwent a successful liver transplant at the weekend.
The biggest margin of victory so far belonged to American Billy Horschel, who overcame Welshman Jamie Donaldson 6 and 5, while Bill Haas beat Miguel Angel Jimenez 5 and 4.
Sergio Garcia required 22 holes to get the better of Australian Marc Leishman, the Spaniard making a winning birdie on the fourth extra hole, while in the later matches Rory McIlroy was four up on Boo Weekley after 11.
A last-32 clash with Lee Westwood looked unlikely however, the former World Number One four down to Harris English after ten.
Westwood was still four down with four to play, but could take heart from the unlikely victory produced by Graeme McDowell from a similar position.
McDowell was four down after seven holes against Gary Woodland and three down with three to play, but won the 16th with a par, the 17th with a birdie and was conceded the 18th as Woodland went from one greenside bunker to another.
A birdie on the first extra hole then sealed victory for McDowell.
There was no such escape for Luke Donald however, the 2011 winner and former World Number One being beaten 5 and 4 by Italy's Matteo Manassero.
