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Jimenez thrashes Schwartzel

Casares - Miguel Angel Jimenez made a flawless start to the World Match Play Championship in Spain on Thursday, thrashing Masters champion Charl Schwartzel 6 and 5 following a bogey-free round.

Schwartzel is trying to emulate fellow South Africans Gary Player and Ernie Els, who won the tournament 12 times between them. But he bogeyed the opening two holes and failed to match the consistency of his Spanish opponent.

Jimenez was born in Malaga but is playing the Finca Cortesin course in nearby Casares for the first time. He clinched the match by chipping his second shot at the par-4 13th within inches of the hole. Schwartzel couldn't match Jimenez's birdie.

"I just kept playing solid - pars, pars, birdies, pars. That's the game today," said Jimenez, who went 3 up after five holes and never looked back.

Schwartzel made just one birdie in 13 holes. He must avoid defeat in his second Group G match - against Johan Edfors on Friday - to have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages this weekend.

Under the tournament's new format, two players from each of the eight three-man groups go through to the last 16.

In the day's first pairing, Ian Poulter of England drained a 6-foot birdie putt at the final hole to halve the match against Ryder Cup teammate Francesco Molinari.

Poulter lost the first three holes to his Italian opponent in the Group H match, trailing the whole round until his final putt.

Defending champion Ross Fisher, who defeated Anthony Kim in the 2009 final, starts the defense of his campaign on Friday.

Scores on the opening day of the World Match Play Championship scores at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club on Thursday:

Francesco Molinari (ITA) halved with Ian Poulter (ENG)

Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) bt Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 6 and 5

Alvaro Quiros (ESP) bt Paul Casey (ENG) 3 and 1

Rory McIlroy (NIR) bt Retief Goosen (RSA) 1 hole

Graeme McDowell (NIR) bt Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 3 and 1

Martin Kaymer (GER) bt Yang Yong-Eun (KOR) 2 and 1

Luke Donald (ENG) bt Ryan Moore (USA) 4 and 3

Lee Westwood (ENG) bt Anders Hansen (DEN) 6 and 5

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