WORLD MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP, Spain
Venue: Finca Cortesin Golf Club, Casares Dates: 29 October-1 November
Coverage: Latest scores and reports on BBC Sport website

Former champion Paul Casey bowed out of the World Match Play Championship after losing both matches on the opening day at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club, Spain.

After three months out with rib trouble, Casey lost to Scott Strange and Anthony Kim while Lee Westwood had a six-hole loss to Jeev Milkha Singh.

Although Casey still has to play Retief Goosen on Friday, he cannot qualify as Kim has already won twice in the group.

All games must complete the 18th hole before 36-hole semi-finals on Saturday.

Westwood, the current leader of the Race To Dubai - the European Tour's revamped money list - plays twice on Friday and could still go through with favourable results against Camilo Villegas and Ross Fisher.

"It's been a while since I've played as badly as that," he admitted.

In addition to Casey, ranked fourth in the Race To Dubai, second-placed Martin Kaymer also went out of the competition on the opening day.

Singh withdrew from last week's Phoenix Open on the US Tour with a foot injury but recorded the most emphatic win of a first day full of surprise results.

"I thought I was facing a lengthy lay-off when the ankle flared up but I got a lot of ultrasound and iced it up five times a day to be able to play this week," said Singh, 50 places below Westwood in the world rankings.

Casey went one down against Strange after a poor bladed shot from the edge of the 17th green led to a bogey at the par-three.

He missed an eight-foot putt on the final green which would have halved the match and he soon found himself three down in eight holes against Kim after the American fired three birdies and an eagle.

A chip-in from the fringe halved the 14th but Casey lost the 18th to Kim's sixth birdie of the round as the margin finished at three holes.

Commenting on his early exit, Casey said: "This morning I was questioning whether I had come back too early. But I don't now. That (second match) was much better - I hit a lot of good shots."

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy faces a similar predicament to Westwood after losing to Masters champion Angel Cabrera.

The Argentine came from one down after six to win by five holes, making birdies on the last three holes and coming home in a five-under 30.

"I made it tough for myself, but he just played too well," said 20-year-old McIlroy, who faces Henrik Stenson and Simon Dyson on Friday.

"But the good thing is that I am still in it. I'm not packing my bags and heading home."

Thursday's results (seeded positions in brackets):

Group A:

(1) Paul Casey (Eng) lost to (16) Scott Strange (Aus) 1 hole

(8) Retief Goosen (SA) lost to (9) Anthony Kim (US) 4 holes

Group B:

(4) Sergio Garcia (Spa) lost to (13) Oliver Wilson (Eng) 1 hole

(5) Martin Kaymer (Ger) lost to (12) Robert Allenby (Aus) 1 hole

Group C:

(3) Henrik Stenson (Swe) lost to (14) Simon Dyson (Eng) 3 holes

(6) Rory McIlroy lost to (11) Angel Cabrera (Arg) 5 holes

Group D:

(2) Lee Westwood (Eng) lost to (15) JM Singh (Ind) 6 holes

(7) Camilo Villegas (Col) lost to (10) Ross Fisher (Eng) 1 hole

Group A:

(1) Paul Casey (Eng) lost to (9) Anthony Kim (US) 3 holes

(8) Retief Goosen (SA) beat (16) Scott Strange (Aus) 1 hole

Group B:

(4) Sergio Garcia (Spa) halved with (12) Robert Allenby (Aus)

(5) Martin Kaymer (Ger) lost to (13) Oliver Wilson (Eng) 1 hole