Woods’ win streak ends

Unbeatable for two months, Tiger Woods’ winning streak came to a swift and sudden conclusion Thursday when Shaun Micheel knocked him out in the first round of the World Match Play Championship in Virginia Water, England.

Woods had a 15-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to keep alive his slim hopes, but he removed his cap and walked over to shake hands with Micheel as the ball was still rolling. The score was 4 and 3, matching Woods’ worst loss in match play.

After falling behind on the first hole of the 36-hole match, Micheel won four straight holes in the morning to build a lead that he never gave up. Woods won the first two holes in the afternoon to cut the lead to one hole, but he missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-5 fourth and failed to win another hole.

Jim Furyk, who rose to No. 2 in the world ranking by winning the Canadian Open on Sunday, got hammered by Robert Karlsson of Sweden, 6 and 4, highlighting a first round in which six of the higher seeds were beaten.

Micheel will play Luke Donald, a 2-up winner over Tim Clark. Karlsson advanced to face Angel Cabrera, a 2-and-1 winner over Ernie Els.

PGA

Michelle Wie shot a 5-over-par 77 in the first round of the 84 Lumber Classic in Farmington, Pa., leaving her with almost no chance of making the cut.

Wie was in a five-player tie for 125th, with the top 70 and ties after the second round advancing to weekend play.

Nicholas Thompson, a 2005 qualifying school graduate who is 181st on the money list, took advantage of an early starting time on a course soaked by 11/2 inches of overnight rain for an 8-under 64.