Paul Lawrie off to a much better start

After falling behind early in both his group games Scotland's Paul Lawrie was off to a much better start against Dane Thomas Björn in their Volvo World Match Play Championship last 16 clash in Spain.

The former Open Champion, playing his 500th European Tour event, needed only to par the two opening holes to establish an early grip.

Even when Björn birdied the long third Lawrie did the same to remain two ahead.

It was a big week for the 43 year old, already fifth in The Ryder Cup points race and with a chance to move to second - especially after beating Swede Peter Hanson, the man currently in second, when they met at the group stage.

Lawrie has not played in the match since 1999, the year he came from a Major record ten shots back at Carnoustie to beat Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard in a play-off.

Spain's Sergio Garcia, another on course for a return against the Americans, went three up on England's 21 year old Tom Lewis after just five holes.

Garcia, one of Colin Montgomerie's assistants at The Celtic Manor Resort, won the first and lost the short second before Lewis bogeyed the long third, could not match his opponent's birdie at the 334 yard next and then conceded the fifth.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was all square after four with Richard Finch, who yesterday knocked out top seed and World Number Nine Martin Kaymer.

American Brandt Snedeker, who started the event with only ten clubs as he waited for his own to arrive after being lost in transit, was two up after three on Colombian Camilo Villegas. A par won him the first and he then eagled the 541 yard third.

Holder Ian Poulter birdied the first to lead big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, but Justin Rose - the most impressive player on the opening two days with big wins over Robert Rock and Open Champion Darren Clarke - fell behind when Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, a semi-finalist last year, birdied the second.