When Weir had a 2 at their 19th, it wasn't a sign of explosive golf to come as the Argentinean then went bogey bogey and a Casey birdie at the 7th gave the Englishman a 2up lead. Wayward driving then started to plague Weir so that his recovery skills were tested to their full.

The Canadian also had to counter some incredible luck from Casey who hit a dreadful lay-up to the cross stream on the 12th, a shot hit too far which then bounced back out of the water. Casey turned that piece of good fortune into a birdie and a three up lead.

When Weir twisted his hip on the next tee, the match was all but over although Casey tried to help an obviously incapacitated Weir with a wayward drive at the 15th, their 31st. They shook hands on the 15th green with Casey a 5&3 winner.

For holes 19 to 27, Karlsson started to play as well as he had done in his R1 win against Jim Furyk with two birdies and an eagle to be 2up. Two bogies at the next two holes only dropped that lead by one as Cabrera was becoming cross with his own standard of golf. His mood was filthy after a second six on the day at the 12th. One can only imagine what Cabrera felt when he took six at the next as well and the match finished with another six at the 15th, their 31st.

Colin Montgomerie was four down after just six holes thanks to a flying start from the defending Champion Michael Campbell - two birdies and an eagle in that stretch of holes. Back came Monty though with two birdies of his own and an inward half of 34 (-3) left the match all square at lunch.

Despite another Campbell eagle at the 4th in the afternoon, 1999 World Matchplay Champion Monty found enough pars and the odd birdie to be two up with seven to play.

Campbell replied with two birdies of his own then committed the cardinal sin of missing the green at the par three 15th. A putt through the bunker failed to make it onto the green so back to one up went Monty. They halved the next two.

The 17th was Campbell?s after three superb shots to the flag for a birdie. Both hit the 18th with Campbell playing first and finding the front left hand bunker only to be following into the sand by Monty.

'I was very lucky', said Monty, 'I was two inches closer than Michael so he had to play first.

'It was a very heavy bunker. If I had played first I would have left it in. I had to recreate the lie as best I could. I knew I had to hit it harder.'

Harder Monty did hit it and the 8ft birdie putt went in to take Monty into a semi final against another of his Ryder Cup compatriots for next week, Paul Casey.

The person with the winning feeling that was stress free (almost) was Shaun Micheel. Having dispatched the World No 1 Tiger Woods so well the day before, Micheel could have had an excuse of having some sort of golfing hangover but the past USPGA Champion was having none of that.

Eight birdies and one bogey was far to much for Luke Donald who was round in 70 for the morning 18, more than creditable play when compared with what was going on in the middle two matches of the draw, but only good enough to be five down.

'Luke couldn't buy a putt', said Micheel in his halfway interview. Micheel need only 25 blows with the flat stick for his lead.

Micheel was two under par for the next nine holes to be six up. Things then became as ragged as in other matches as three holes in a row went Donald's way, notably on the 12th as Micheel missed from barely two feet for a halving birdie.

If Donald were to have a chance, he had to keep up the pressure. Missing the 13th green was not what was required, nor was three putts at the next. Donald did get another back at the 15th when Micheel took five. It looked like the 16th could go Donald's way as Micheel was perched on the edge of a bunker for his approach. It just didn't happen though and Micheel was a 4&2 winner, ready to play Karlsson.