Ernie Els congratulates Phil Tataurangi on his win

The world number two lost in a play-off to Phil Tataurangi and joins other top seeds Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia on the sidelines.

"I haven't had much luck on this course," said Els.

"Sometimes you need a bit of luck and I didn't have any today. Last three years here I haven't had any luck."

Reigning Masters and US Open champion Tiger Woods advanced to the second round with a 2 and 1 win over Sweden's Carl Pettersson.

"It was a heck of a test," said Woods. "Here if you don't go out there and play right away you'll be going home.

"I know that and everyone else knows that and you've got to get up for it."

The 27-year-old American played bogey free through all 17 holes and finished with three pars.

Spain's Garcia became the first of the favourites to fall early in the day with defending champion Kevin Sutherland beating him 2 and 1.

Sutherland, the 60th seed, opened with a bogey and then birdied the next two holes to go one up.

In other first-round matches, South Africa's Goosen lost to 49-year-old American Jay Haas, Padraig Harrington, of Ireland, stopped American John Cook, Japan's Shingo Katayama lost to Rocco Mediate and England's Justin Rose outlasted No 12 seed David Duval.

Australia's Adam Scott had to come from behind to beat Germany's Bernhard Langer 3 and 2 and advance.

HAVE YOUR SAY Els is better than Tiger - wait until the Masters to see how good Ernie is From Michael Cooke, England Join the debate

The 22-year-old Rose triumphed after Duval three-putted the 19th and will face Sutherland in the next round.

"Standing on the first extra hole I would have put big money on me being unemployed (for the rest of the week), but it all ended up perfectly for me," said Rose.

Rose also thanked his coach David Leadbetter.

"He sees something and has the ability to kind of give you the right feel almost instantly. He's brilliant."

Clarke and Harrington will face member of last September's American Ryder Cup team in the next round.

For Clarke it is Davis Love while Scott Hoch awaits for Harrington.

"I was more relaxed about it this time, though, and after my start (three straight birdies) I just played very solid golf," said Harrington.

Clarke has linked up again with Woods' coach Butch Harmon and it is paying dividends.

"My expectations are growing day by day," said the cigar-smoking Irishman.

"That's mostly to do with the way I'm feeling and the way I'm playing, but it also has a little bit to do with the fact that I am coming back to a place I have good memories of."

Colin Montgomerie suffered a three and two defeat to German Alex Cejka - his third opening-day exit in four visits to the event - and Paul Casey was crushed five and four by Love.

Paul Lawrie, the other British and Irish player in the field, lost four and three to Nick Price.

The Match Play features the top 64 eligible players in the world rankings.

First-round results:

56-Toshi Izawa (Japan) beat 9-Chris DiMarco 2-up
24-Eduardo Romero (Argentina) beat 41-John Huston 2-up
12-Rocco Mediate beat 53-Shingo Katayama (Japan) 1-up
44-Adam Scott beat 21-Bernhard Langer (Germany) 3-up
10-Jim Furyk beat 55-Len Mattiace 2-up
42-Steve Lowery beat 23-Rich Beem 2-up
54-Alex Cejka (Germany) beat 11-Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 4-up
22-Angel Cabrera (Argentina) beat 43-Scott Verplank 3-up
8-Padraig Harrington (Ireland) beat 57-John Cook 4-up
25-Scott Hoch beat 40-Tom Lehman 3-up
60-Sutherland beat 5-Sergio Garcia (Spain) 2-up
37-Justin Rose (Britain) beat 28-David Duval 1-up
7-Davis Love III beat 58-Paul Casey (Britain) 5-up
26-Darren Clarke (Britain) beat 39-Tim Clark (South Africa) 4-up
6-David Toms beat 59-Anders Hansen (Denmark) 3-up
38-Chris Riley beat 27-Stuart Appleby (Australia) 1-up
16-Justin Leonard beat 49-Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spain) 2-up
48-Stephen Leaney (Australia) beat 17-Bob Estes 2-up
13- Nick Price (Zimbabwe) beat 52-Paul Lawrie (Britain) 4-up
45-Niclas Fasth (Sweden) beat 20-Charles Howell III 1-up
15-Robert Allenby (Australia) beat 50-Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 4-up
47-Jeff Sluman beat 18-Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 3-up
14-Mike Weir (Canada) beat 51-Loren Roberts 1/851 3/8, 26th hole
19-Jerry Kelly beat 46-Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 5-up
1-Tiger Woods beat 64-Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 2-up
32-K.J. Choi (South Korea) beat 33-Fred Funk 1-up
61-Jay Haas beat 4-Retief Goosen (South Africa) 5-up
29-Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) beat 36-Scott McCarron 4-up
63-Phil Tataurangi (New Zealand) beat 2-Ernie Els (South Africa) 1-up
31-Peter Lonard (Australia) beat 34-Kenny Perry 2-up
3-Phil Mickelson beat 62-Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 1-up
35-Brad Faxon beat 30-Craig Parry (Australia) 2-up