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Volvo World Match Play Championship: Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts defeated

Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts face a battle to remain in the Volvo World Match Play Championship after losing their opening group games.

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Magnificent birdie

"I think on 16 I lost a bit of concentration after his tee shot ended up on the edge of the path and he had to play left-handed and he made a magnificent birdie," Fernandez-Castano said. "But I'm really happy, especially the way I played the last two holes, so we have to take the positives. "Even though my match play record is not good, I've always enjoyed playing it and I think I'm good at it. I need to keep proving, especially to the new Ryder Cup captain, that I can play this format." Another player looking to impress Paul McGinley is Pettersson, an impressive 4&3 winner over Olesen who has taken up European Tour membership in a bid to finally qualify for the Ryder Cup. Pettersson, who has lived in America since he was 10 and took up US citizenship last year, would have qualified for the 2006 contest at the K Club if he had been allowed to rejoin the European Tour at the start of the selection process the previous year. He would also have been a contender for the team last year, but did not want to play the minimum 13 European Tour events required for membership. Biggest win of the day belonged to last year's runner-up Graham McDowell, who was three under par in beating Wood 5&3 and will be assured of a place in the last 16 before his second match on Friday afternoon if Wood also loses to Stephen Gallacher on Friday morning. "It was important to get off to a good start," McDowell said. "For the guys that lost today it's not the end of the world, but to get the win under the belt takes the pressure off somewhat."

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