MARANA, Arizona (Reuters) – Britain’s Luke Donald drew first blood in the opening round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday with a crushing 6&5 victory over American Charley Hoffman.

After overnight frost had delayed the scheduled start of play by 30 minutes, Donald birdied three of the first eight holes in dazzling sunshine to go five up on Hoffman at Dove Mountain’s Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.

The stumbling American then dropped his fifth shot of the day at the par-four ninth, after missing the green to the right with an aggressive approach, to trail by six at the turn.

Although Hoffman won his only hole with an eagle at the par-five 11th, the rock-steady Donald sealed victory on the 13th green where he and his opponent carded matching pars.

“Certainly he could have played but I will take the win,” a smiling Donald said greenside after his one-sided triumph in the fifth match out.

In other early encounters, U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland was four up on American Heath Slocum after 10 holes while South African Ernie Els was one up on American Jeff Overton after 14.

Italian Edoardo Molinari was two up on Britain’s Martin Laird after 12, Ryan Palmer led fellow American Jim Furyk by three after 12 and long-hitting American J.B. Holmes was three up on Colombian Camilo Villegas after 13.

Holder Ian Poulter, who beat fellow Briton Paul Casey 4&2 in last year’s final, was all square with American Stewart Cink after 17 holes in the first match out.

World number one Tiger Woods was set to make his second PGA Tour start of the year later on Wednesday in a first-round encounter with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.

Woods is a three-times winner of the Match Play Championship but is bidding for his first tournament victory in 15 months after struggling with his game and private life.

In other late matches, twice champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia was drawn against Irishman Padraig Harrington while British world number one Lee Westwood was pitted against Swede Henrik Stenson, the 2007 winner.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)