Clarke won here three years ago

Darren Clarke secured a place in the last 16 of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship with a record victory over Davis Love.

Clarke, who won this tournament three years ago with victory over Tiger Woods, triumphed with a record-equalling seven and six victory.

A repeat of the 2000 final is still possible as Tiger Woods overcame South Korean KJ Choi four and three.

Clarke's win came while most of the other players had to wait for flooded greens to be cleared.

It was a mixture of good play from Clarke and some unexpected mistakes from his American opponent, a winner on the US Tour three weeks ago.

Clarke hit his tee shot to less than three feet on the short second, then Love drove out of bounds on the next.

At the 204-yard fifth the Ulsterman was only three feet away again and holed after his opponent had missed from five.

Davis hit a few poor shots, but I got away with mine and got all the breaks Darren Clarke

Minutes later he chipped in and at the seventh Love was in rough and sand as he lost yet another hole.

Love was favourite to win the long eighth after three shots, but three-putted from only 12 feet and Clarke's chip hit the flag.

The gap became seven when former USPGA champion Love found water at the 526-yard 11th and after a delay because of the weather conditions the pair shook hands on the next green.

In Thursday's other matches, American Scott Hoch beat Ireland's Padraig Harrington 3 and 2 and Japan's Toshi Izawa stopped Eduardo Romero of Argentina 3 and 1.

Defending champion Kevin Sutherland of the US came from behind to defeat England's Justin Rose by one.

Sutherland, who knocked out Sergio Garcia in the first round, won the 13th and 14th to be two up on Rose, but after the British youngster took the next the last three were shared in pars.

Rose appeared to have a chance on the par five last when his opponent hooked his drive.

But Rose spun his third shot 30 feet from the flag and Sutherland, having played his second down the adjoining first fairway, got the half he needed.