McIlroy's top spot hopes get major boost

Rory McIlroy's bid to claim the world number one spot received a major boost as Luke Donald crashed out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Donald struggled against South African Els on a sun-splashed day in the Arizona desert where the heavily contoured greens ran fast and firm.

Triple major winner Els made the most of an error-prone performance by the British world number one and sealed victory when he sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-four 14th.

Losing means that McIlroy or Lee Westwood could go to number one by winning the first of the season's world championships on Sunday.

Second seed McIlroy came from behind at the turn to beat South African George Coetzee while Westwood, who lost top spot to Martin Kaymer at this event last year, was an impressive six under par in overcoming Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

McIlroy said: "Obviously it's another incentive knowing that if you win, at the end of the week you could be world number one.

"It's just nice to get through. That stretch (on the back nine) where I won four in a row felt like I played some good golf. I'll need to play more of that tomorrow against Anders."

Three of the sport's top 10 are already out. Italian teenager Matteo Manassero knocked out sixth-ranked Webb Simpson and England's Robert Rock, conqueror of Woods and the world top four in Abu Dhabi last month, got the better of eighth-ranked Adam Scott.

Like Rock, Scots Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird won on the last against Justin Rose and Alvaro Quiros respectively. They now play Ryo Ishikawa and Manassero, while Rock is up against American Mark Wilson.

Woods lost to Thomas Bjorn in the first round last year and trailed Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano by one with four to play, but won the next two and held on - just.

"I've got to hit the ball a little better - and I'll certainly do that," he said before taking on fellow American Nick Watney, an easy 5&4 winner over Open champion Darren Clarke.

Donald's defeat was the biggest surprise, but 2010 winner Ian Poulter also went out to Korea's Bae Sang-moon.