GOLF: Darren Clarke's liking for La Costa, even in torrential rain, continued yesterday as he thrashed Davis Love by a record-equalling margin. However, for Padraig Harrington there will be no meeting with world number one Tiger Woods after he crashed out 3 and 2 to American Scott Hoch.

Clarke, winner of the Accenture World matchplay Championship on the California course three years ago - he claimed the million-dollar first prize by beating Tiger Woods in the final - secured a place in the last 16 with a 7 and 6 victory.

"I had the momentum and momentum is huge in matchplay," stated Clarke.

"Davis hit a few poor shots, but I got away with mine and got all the breaks whereas he had none."

The victory came while most of the other players had to wait for flooded greens to be cleared.

It was a mixture of his own good play and some unexpected mistakes from the Ryder Cup American, a winner on the US Tour only three weeks ago and easy winner over England's Paul Casey in the first round.

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.

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 US PGA champion Love found water - in a lake rather than on the fairway - at the 526-yard 11th, and after a delay because of the conditions they shook hands on the next green.

Harrington, meanwhile, trailed by two with four to play against Hoch and lost the 16th and the match to a birdie three.

Earlier Harrington found himself laughing minutes before falling behind at the par three second.

He and Hoch halved the first in par fours, and after Harrington hit his tee-shot to the second Hoch turned to match referee Mike Shea and asked if he was able to get information on where the ball had finished.

The Irishman laughed and smiled as Shea spoke on his walkie-talkie and then came back to say that Harrington was off the green, but not in the bunker.

"I guess that means you're entitled to tell me," said Hoch, who then hit his shot to five feet and won the hole when his opponent failed to get up and down.

Shea, senior director of rules for the US Tour, said: "I've never been asked that question before and had to find out whether I could supply that information. I had seen where the ball went."

Harrington, who until Wednesday had never won a game in the event, promptly birdied the long third to get back on terms, but Hoch's putts from 18 feet on the seventh and fully 38 feet on the 10th put him two-up.

The Irishman won the 11th, but was certainly not smiling when he three-putted the 14th.

Justin Rose holed from eight feet at the second to take the lead against Kevin Sutherland, who knocked out Sergio Garcia in the first round.

The hole already had happy memories for the 22-year-old from Hampshire.

Another birdie there had given him victory at the 20th hole over 2001 Open champion David Duval in the first round.

Sutherland came back to win the sixth and 10th, but then bogeyed the short 12th. Sunderland won the 13th and 14th and despite Rose claiming the 15th, the defending champion held on for a one hole win.

Woods lost the opening hole for the second day running, but his next shot was hit to two feet and the top seed, soon to almost hole-in-one at the fifth, was two-up on South Korean KJ Choi after nine and went three ahead with a birdie three on the 12th and followed with another win on 14.

During the delay the players stayed on the course and huddled under umbrellas until the storm passed.

"It is good with this weather that this is matchplay," said Phil Mickelson. "There is no discrepancy between groups."

(26) Darren Clarke (NIrl) bt (7) Davis Love (USA) 7 and 6

(25) Scott Hoch (USA) bt (8) Padraig Harrington (Irl) 3 and 2

(56) Toshi Izawa (Jpn) bt (24) Eduardo Romero (Arg) 3 and 1

(10) Jim Furyk (USA) bt (42) Steve Lowery (USA) 6 and 5

(60) Kevin Sutherland (USA) bt (37) Justin Rose (Eng) 1 hole

(44) Adam Scott (Aus) bt (12) Rocco Mediate (USA) 1 hole

(1) Tiger Woods (USA) bt (32) KJ Choi (Korea) 5 and 3

(48) Stephen Leaney (Aust) bt (16) Justin Leonard (USA) 6 and 5

(54) Alex Cejka (Ger) bt (22) Angel Cabrera (Arg) 4 and 2