Monty completes thrilling comeback

Colin Montgomerie, so many times Europe's Ryder Cup hero, produced a sizzling back nine to hold off American Charles Howell in the second round of the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Howell took the lead with four successive birdies from the 10th hole, but Montgomerie dug deep to birdie three of the next four holes and score a hard-fought one-up victory at Dove Mountain.

"That's a good effort," said Montgomerie, who joked that he would give himself a pat on the back if only he was a little younger and more flexible.

"We're in the last 16 and delighted. I look forward to playing again."

By pure co-incidence, Montgomerie, who beat Jim Furyk on Wednesday, has come up against Americans in the first two rounds.

European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo, in Tucson as a television commentator, must have been suitably impressed, and will have another chance to watch a mini Ryder Cup showdown on Friday as Montgomerie takes on yet another American, Stewart Cink.

In an all-British showdown, Englishman Paul Casey recovered from a slow start to mow down Welshman Bradley Dredge two and one.

It was turning into a mixed day for the European contingent, with Irishman Padraig Harrington and Spaniard Sergio Garcia making early exits.

Cink beat Harrington two-up, while Garcia was no match for Boo Weekley, the American winning decisively three and one.

Australian Aaron Baddeley advanced to the last 16 without even hitting a shot after his American opponent, David Toms, withdrew with a back injury.