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Cabrera takes command at World Match Play

13/10/2007

Angel Cabrera returned to the clubhouse with a three-hole lead over Hunter Mahan after the first 18 holes of their HSBC World Match Play semi-final.

The Argentinean exploited Mahan's slow start by racing into a three-shot lead inside the first nine holes, and although his American opponent found some momentum after the turn with wins on tenth and 15th, Cabrera rode his luck to preserve his lead.

A late glimmer of opportunity for the Californian disappeared when Cabrera managed to rescue par after hooking his tee shot off the 17th tee.

In the other semi-final Henrik Stenson established a slender one-hole advantage over Ernie Els.

The pair fought out a see-sawing first half to their match with the Swede taking the lead three times before Els clawed back parity on each occasion.

After wins at the 12th, 15th and 17th the South African must have thought he had done enough to ensure he would start the afternoon rounds on equal footing, but a superb bunker shot on the last from Stenson secured a late advantage.

"I was expecting a very tough match and he is playing very well. I played very well for most of the morning round but I was a bit scrappy coming in," Els admitted.