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Campbell beats Faldo at 7th sudden-death hole

VIRGINIA WATER, England -- New Zealand's Michael Campbell is making his World Match Play debut memorable.

Campbell won the longest match in World Match Play Championship history Friday morning, then defeated Ian Woosnam to reach the semifinals.

Campbell made a 10-foot birdie putt at the seventh sudden-death hole to beat Nick Faldo in the record-setting match.

The first-round match, scheduled for 36 holes, had been halted by darkness Thursday after 42 holes.

When it resumed Friday, Campbell ended it quickly with birdie at the 43rd. Campbell beat defending champion Ian Woosnam of Wales 3 and 2 and faces Sergio Garcia in the semifinals.

The Campbell-Faldo match was the longest in the event's 39-year history by three holes. There had been three matches going 40 holes, including Faldo's loss to Darren Clarke two years ago.

Against Woosnam, Campbell had 11 birdies and an eagle, but his iron play was so good that the longest putt he needed to make was 9 feet.

"It's been a long couple of days, but it's gone pretty well. I am comfortable with my fitness and my game," Campbell said. "It's hard mentally. It's hard to maintain your focus over 36 holes. Yesterday I had a huge headache from concentrating for so long."

In other results, Garcia beat Ireland's Padraig Harrington 2 and 1. British Open champion Ernie Els defeated Colin Montgomerie 6 and 5 and faces Vijay Singh, who beat Retief Goosen 4 and 3.

Els is chasing his fourth World Match Play title.

SBC CHAMPIONSHIP: George Archer sank an eagle and three birdies on the back nine to shoot 7-under 64 and take the opening-round lead in San Antonio, Texas.

Vicente Fernandez, who made five birdies and an eagle in a seven-hole stretch, bogeyed his final two holes to fall two strokes back at 66, one ahead of Rodger Davis.

Archer's round was his lowest in 23 events this year, and it was one higher than the tournament record of 63, last accomplished by defending champion Larry Nelson in his final round in 2001.

ST. PETERSBURG CITY CHAMPIONSHIP: Kyle McCarthy shot 3-under 69 for a three-shot lead after the first round of the 18th annual tournament at Mangrove Bay. Danielle Jackson, 14, the 2000 women's winner, shot 76 for a six-stroke lead in the women's division. The final 18 holes will be played today.

AUGUSTA NATIONAL: William S. Farish, the U.S. ambassador to Britain, wrote in a letter to Martha Burk, the president of the National Council of Women's Organizations, that although he's not responsible for selecting members, "it is my hope that a woman will be admitted."

-- Times correspondent Dave Theall contributed to this report.

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