Els sorry he thrashed Monty 6 and 5

THREE TOP SEEDS GO OUT ON

FIRST DAY OF HSBC WORLD

MATCH-PLAY

So maybe the seeding committee for this week's HSBC world match-play championship at Wentworth got it a wee bit wrong ... No 5 seed Justin Rose beaten ... No 4 seed Rory Sabbatini beaten ... No 3 seed Padraig Harrington beaten, all on the first day of these 36-hole matches.

Defending champion Paul Casey (pictured right) is through to the second round but he complained about "tired legs, tired back, tired head" as he kept alive his hopes of a second successive £1million win.
He had another problem too, in beating American Jerry Kelly 3 and 2, complaining about what he saw as poor crowd control.
"We had a lot of distractions for whatever reason," said the Ryder Cup star, who has yet to lose in the tournament. "They are wonderful crowds, and I don't know why it was difficult. But it just seemed to be people walking all over the place."
He added: "It's one of those things. We tried to speak to someone, but the marshals seemed to be enjoying themselves watching the golf.
"They are volunteers and do a great job. It's just the way it is - I wouldn't want to be a marshal."
Casey next meets US Open champion Angel Cabrera, who crushed Retief Goosen 6 and 5 and was an approximate 10 under par in comparison to Casey's one over par figures in beating Kelly. "I hope I can bore him to death - down the fairway, on the green, lots of birdie chances," added Casey.
"Angel will be 20 yards ahead of me (off the tee), but I just have to be more consistent than he is. I'm going to have to play better golf than I did (Thursday). I feel very lucky (to be still in the tournament)."

MONTY: ERNIE ELS REGRETS
Colin Montgomerie and Justin Rose both failed to make the quarter-finals, losing heavily to Ernie Els and Hunter Mahan respectively.
Also out is Open champion Padraig Harrington, beaten by Anders Hansen. The Dane is seeking a second victory at Wentworth this year after his play-off win over Rose in the BMW PGA Championship in May.

Ernie Els, who lives on the Wentworth estate and helped redesign some of the holes on the course, admitted he felt "kind of sad" - all because he hammered Colin Montgomerie in the opening round./

The big Scot's 6 and 5 defeat equalled his heaviest loss in 30 games at the event, going back to 1991. But second seed Els would rather they had not clashed so early.
"It was tough both of us playing together in the first round," said the South African, winner of the title a record six times already. "We've had so much success around this course and in this event. I think it would have been a really great match later in the tournament."
His victory, however, keeps alive his hopes of a "Super Sunday". Els has plans to go South Africa's Rugby World Cup semi-final against Argentina in Paris and since it starts at 8pm British time there would be time for him to fly from Surrey even if he is involved in the final and it goes the full distance.
"I do have a ticket and I will organise something," he said.
Montgomerie, the 1999 champion and three times the Volvo PGA champion round the West Course, did not try to put any gloss on his performance.
"I was just rubbish all day - rubbish," said the Scot, who has now come off second best in all three meetings with Els at the event and suffered one of his other two 6 and 5 defeats to him in 2002. The other was against Paul Casey in last year's semi-finals.
"I was four over par and three-putting the first green set the tone for the day.
"I spent three days practising my putting - in the rain, everything - then you come to the first green and three-putt. End of the day. That was it.
"It gives Ernie confidence and the worst I played the better he became. Very disappointing indeed.

SCOREBOARD
Results of completed first round matches at the HSBC World Match Play Championship, Wentworth (seeded positions in brackets):

(9) Angel Cabrera (Arg) bt (8) Retief Goosen (RSA) 6 and 5.

(1) Paul Casey (Eng) bt (16) Jerry Kelly (USA) 3 and 2

(12) Hunter Mahan (USA) bt (5) Justin Rose (Eng) 5 and 4

(13) Soren Hansen (Den) bt (4) Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 4 and 3

(14) Anders Hansen (Den) bt (3) Padraig Harrington (Ire) 4 and 2

(2) Ernie Els (RSA) bt (15) Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 6 and 5

***Because of fog delay, two matches could not be completed and will continue on Friday morning.
These are between:

Henrik Stenson (Swe) who is all square with (11) Woody Austin (USA)

(10) Andres Romero (Arg) who is two up on Niclas Fasth (Swe).