Henrik Stenson claimed the early advantage in the final of the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play to lie two up on Geoff Ogilvy at the midway point on Dove Mountain.
Stenson made a good start at the Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona, winning the par five first hole after two hefty blows left him with just an eight foot putt for eagle.
He also won the second, but defending champion Ogilvy fought right back to win the next four holes on the bounce in a rollercoaster change of fortunes.
But Stenson stemmed the bleeding by winning the seventh and did not lose another hole for the remainder of the round, also winning the tenth, 12th and 15th holes.
Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the morning came at the par four 12th hole, which Stenson won with an unlikely birdie.
In a tricky position nestled up against the collar of rough, he chipped in from 20 feet and - match play being what it is - Ogilvy subsequently missed a five foot birdie chance to lose the hole, when moments earlier he had seemed all set to win it.
The Swede is aiming to become the second European to win the WGC – Accenture Match Play after Darren Clarke in 2000.
