European golf was on the march in Tucson as Spaniard Sergio Garcia and England’s Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Oliver Wilson and Ian Poulter all reached the last 16 of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.
Donald had the biggest win, but the best was probably the one achieved by Wilson, who defeated fourth seed Rory McIlroy at the second extra hole.
Late in the second round there was even a chance that second seed Lee Westwood and last-man-in Ross McGowan would make it six out of six Englishmen in the last 16, but Westwood lost 2 and 1 to American Nick Watney and McGowan, conqueror of top seed Steve Stricker, went down on the last to 18 year old Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.
Westwood has still to go beyond this stage in ten visits to the event and as a result misses the chance to go to World Number Two for the first time in his career.
Last year's runner-up Casey, still recovering from the torn rib muscle he suffered last summer after reaching third in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, defeated Canadian left-hander Mike Weir 5 and 4.
But Donald, returning to form following wrist surgery in 2008, went one better than that with a 6 and 5 victory over Australian Robert Allenby.
The 32 year old, runner-up on the US PGA Tour two weeks ago, had opened with an eight-birdie victory over Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and commented: "Again another solid day - five birdies, no bogeys. I picked off the par fives and Robert didn't quite have his game, he didn't put too much pressure on me.
"I'm drawing on the confidence of the last few weeks. This is my fourth in a row, so to finish as quickly as possible is good for me."
Casey won the first four holes against Weir, who 24 hours earlier had birdied nine of the first ten holes against Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.
The former Masters Tournament champion failed to reproduce that form and won only one hole in the entire match.
Casey said: "I didn't see any reason why Mike would struggle, but he did. The start was key - I was very surprised to be four up after four.
"Conserving energy is always a big one. When my legs get tired it affects my swing. Peter Kostis (his American coach) told me to go back to the hotel and relax when I finished yesterday, so I went back and worked out!"
Things were much closer in the all-European duel between 20 year old McIlroy and Wilson and they went into sudden death when the Northern Ireland star saved himself with an eight foot putt on the last.
McIlroy, who reached the last eight on his debut 12 months ago, had recovered from four down to beat American Kevin Na on the opening day, but a drive into a bunker at the 20th, followed by a superb chip by Wilson, ended the clash.
The Mansfield golfer, still searching for his first professional victory despite being part of Europe's last Ryder Cup side, next plays Donald - his third European opponent in a row.
Wilson stated: "That's a strange one, but I'm obviously delighted to be through. It's mainly relief - that's great scalp for me.
"We're only a small country and to have nine in the field is fantastic - a great achievement."
Poulter added: "It's very pleasing. It was never going to be an easy match - none of these is whether you are the number one seed or the 64th."
He next takes on another European Tour Member, Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, while sixth seed Casey is up against American Brian Gay, ranked 54th.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy was defeated 2 and 1 by Colombian Camilo Villegas and third seed Jim Furyk was knocked out by South African Charl Schwartzel, but Garcia superbly came from behind to defeat Dane Anders Hansen.
“Obviously very thrilled about getting through to the third round,” said the Spaniard.
“It's a funny tournament, this match play, because some years you come here and you feel like you're playing unbelievable, and you get beaten in the first or second round. And some years you come here, and you don't feel quite as great and you manage to somehow get around it - so I'm happy about that.
“I still need to get a lot better. I need to get rid of some shots that I'm hitting out there, but I'll take what comes.”
The last match out proved to be a classic battle between South African duo Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
Els twice went ahead on the front nine only for his fellow European Tour Member Goosen to peg him back both times.
Els’ three on the short par four 15th put him ahead again but Goosen was let off the hook as he won the next two with pars.
That left the double US Open Championship winner needing to hole an eight foot birdie putt on the last to force extra holes, and he duly obliged.
But Despite a brave up-and-down for par on the first extra hole to keep the tie alive, Els had no answer to his opponent's sublime approach at the 20th as Goosen went through to face Watney.
