Tiger Woods barely broke a sweat.

Steve Stricker went into overtime for the second straight day.

They had only one thing in common on Thursday in Marana, Arizona, at the Accenture Match Play Championship, which ultimately was all that mattered.

Both are still playing.

One day after a stunning comeback to survive the opening round, Woods built a quick lead against Arron Oberholser and never gave him much hope in a 3-and-2 victory.

The thrills belonged to Steve Stricker, who made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 19th hole to extend the match, then beat Presidents Cup teammate Hunter Mahan with a birdie putt just inside 50 feet. It was the second straight day Stricker won in 20 holes.

"I'm getting my money's worth out of this event," Stricker said.

It was the second straight year that Phil Mickelson was given a long weekend off.

Fresh of a victory at Riviera, he couldn't make enough birdies to keep up with Stuart Appleby, who couldn't miss. Appleby's ninth birdie came on the 17th hole, and it was enough to send Lefty packing with a 2-and-1 loss.

David Toms didn't have any chance at all.

His back flared up late in his first-round victory over Masters champion Zach Johnson, and the pain was such that he had to withdraw before facing Aaron Baddeley.

Next up for Baddeley is a third-round date with Woods.

Woods had to play his final five holes in 5-under par to rally against J.B. Holmes in the first round. He had no such worries against Oberholser, playing in his first tournament of the year because of a shoulder injury. He hit his second shot into the desert to lose the opening hole, and didn't win a hole until a birdie at the 12th.

"Match play is an animal that's all about the moment," Woods said. "It's not about building toward Sunday. If you don't play well, you're going home. You'd better get organized quick and get off to a quick start and never give holes away. That's one of the things that I did today versus yesterday. I never gave Arron a hole."

Match play delivered some key moments on a sunny day amid saguaros and sagebrush.

K.J. Choi was even par through 19 holes and advanced. Hunter Mahan was 7 under over 20 holes and lost.

Sergio Garcia was cruising against Boo Weekley, going 2 up with an eagle on the 10th, then his putter went cold. He bogeyed three of the next four holes and lost.

Adam Scott lost to Woody Austin.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson defeated Trevor Immelman.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily February 23, 2008)