Former world no. 1 Tiger Woods was eliminated by Nick Watney 1 up on Thursday in a second-round match at the $8.5 million World Golf Championships Match Play Championship.

Watney booked a third-round match on Friday against world no. 3 Lee Westwood of England. Westwood, the Sam Snead bracket's top seed, defeated Sweden's Robert Karlsson 3 and 2 in another second-round match at Dove Mountain.

"I'm definitely in a little bit of shock," Watney said after Woods missed a five-footer that would have extended the match.

"The old adage is to expect your opponent to make it," Watney said. "And when it's Tiger Woods, you really expect him to make it."

Woods, a 14-time major winner and three-time WGC Match Play champion, has not won a tour-level title since 2009 as he has struggled with injuries and the aftermath of his infamous sex scandal.

Watney sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the opening hole to move 1-up on Woods, but Woods answered with a birdie at the par-5 second and parred to win the par-4 fourth and put himself 1-up on US compatriot Watney.

Woods dropped the par-4 seventh with a bogey and the match was squared at the turn, then surrendered the par-4 10th to Watney and lost the par-3 12th to a birdie from Watney, who seized a 2-up edge and kept it through the 15th hole.

Even then, Watney said, he was expecting Woods to respond.

"I just felt like Tiger Woods is not going to lay down," Watney said. "Tiger Woods is not going to give you this match, so you've got to do something to take it."

Watney took a bogey at the par-3 16th, trimming his lead to 1 up with two to play, and each parred the par-4 17th, sending the drama to the final hole.

Woods missed three birdie putts within 10 feet over the final six holes.

"I didn't miss a single shot coming in, which is good. And that was fun, to hit the ball that well," said Woods, who struggled as he implemented swing changes last year. "Unfortunately, I just didn't make a putt when I needed it."

-AFP