Westwood makes it through to the last 16 along with McIlroy and Lawrie but Woods crashes out of Accenture Match Play Championship

Get out the flags and hang up the bunting. Lee Westwood has finally made it through to Friday at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Let out a sigh of disappointment that it is not Tiger Woods waiting for him. Needing to hole a 5ft putt at the 18th to extend his match against Nick Watney, the once-immortal one pushed it limply to the right of the hole to offer more evidence that these days he’s just another good golfer.

Another compelling day of drama, then, in the best event in golf this side of the Masters and one that continues to treat UK golfers very kindly. Not only Westwood but Rory McIlroy and the two Scots Martin Laird and Paul Lawrie have also made it through to Friday’s last 16.

In the last 16: Lee Westwood made it through to Friday

Good day: Westwood beat Robert Karlsson of Sweden

All four are seeking to follow in the footsteps of Luke Donald and Ian Poulter, winners for the past two years.

At the 12th attempt, Westwood could scarcely conceal his delight at making it through to this lofty stage for the first time. ‘Feel like the first man on the moon,’ he tweeted. ‘One giant step through to Friday at the matchplay. Need more clothes. Didn’t pack enough.’

Finally, it looks as if the Ryder Cup Westy has shown up, as he bullied Robert Karlsson into submission with some dazzling golf over the front nine. He even gets an American opponent today, one to whom he will show the utmost respect.

One of the reasons Westwood has such a poor record in this event is that Watney just happens to have knocked him out for the past two years.

Can't look: Tiger Woods reacts to being knocked down

‘I feel the way I’m playing I will be tough to beat,’ said a buoyant Westwood, who nevertheless could have been forgiven for wishing that Tiger had made it through. The brutal truth right now is that Watney represents a more formidable obstacle.

As for Woods, not for the first time he lamented the disintegration of a putting stroke that, at his best, looked bullet-proof under pressure. ‘It’s the same bad putt every time, that block out to the right,’ he said.

Has there been a better day for Scotland in this tournament Scrolling through an exceedingly modest level of achievement, it is hard to find anything remotely comparable to the stirring victories mustered by Lawrie and Laird.

Up against the two best young players in world golf, Ryo Ishikawa and Matteo Manassero were duly dispatched by the admirable control of Lawrie and the awesome power of Laird respectively.

Through: Paul Lawrie is showing his good form

Now the pair will meet in the last 16, with the Scots assured of their first quarter-finalist since Lawrie reached that stage 12 years ago. For Lawrie, this was a continuation of his pleasing resurgence while Laird showed exactly why he will be a real asset should be make Europe’s Ryder Cup side in September.

If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard much from Manassero recently then this match provided a hearty clue, with the 18 year old Italian outdriven by Laird by as much as 75 yards on occasion. At the 9th, Manassero failed to clear a fairway bunker from the tee with his driver; Laird flew it with a three wood.

You’d have to enjoy an unbelievable day on the greens and hope for your opponent to start spraying the ball to nullify such a huge advantage. Manassero came pretty close to making the former happen but Laird was far too assured with his irons to permit any hope of the latter.

Going well: Martin Laird of Scotland beat Matteo Manassero

He really is an impressive ball striker, as illustrated by the long par four 7th, where Manassero was hitting a hybrid club for his approach and Laird, following yet another 300 yard plus drive, an eight iron to 3ft.

Looking forward to his match against Lawrie, Laird thought back to a time in 2000 when he was a promising youngster coming through the ranks and the then Open Champion paid a visit.

‘I was 17 at the time and Paul gave us a lesson and some good advice,’ he recalled. ‘I remember looking up to him then thinking this is where I want to go, I want to be holding the trophy like he is. Now it feels kind of funny that I am playing him tomorrow right here in Arizona.’

There were almost as many Japanese media following Ishikawa as spectators but Lawrie ensured there was little chance of sending good news back home as he delivered another virtually flawless exhibition from tee to green.

In with a shout: Rory McIlroy is through to the last 16

The 20 year old Japanese showed his flair with a couple of holed shots from off the green but also his penchant for wild driving, leading to a match in which Lawrie was never behind at any stage, eventually winning by one hole.

‘It probably should have been over earlier but I struggled a little with the putter and when that happens matches are going to go a long way,’ said Lawrie. ‘As for meeting Martin, I’m looking forward to it. He’s a good lad and it should be a great match.’

It might prove an ominous sign for the rest of the final 16 survivors that Rory McIlroy hasn’t played that well but is still around, following his three and two win over the Dane Anders Hansen.

McIlroy finished off the match with three perfect short game shots. The first at the 14th dropped into the hole for a winning birdie and he followed it up with a chip and a bunker shot at the next two holes that both finished stone dead.

Good shot: McIlroy reacts to his chip shot on the eighth hole

McIlroy will now play the wily Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who might be 48 but shows little sign of a diminishing of his powers. He’s had two cracking victories to reach this stage, first over fellow countryman Sergio Garcia and then over U.S PGA Champion Keegan Bradley on Thursday.

McIlroy will dispose Donald and become world number one should he win this event and admitted it was acting as a further incentive. ‘You can’t help thinking about it given that everyone keeps mentioning it and it is definitely acting as extra motivation,’ he said.

The only UK player to lose on Thursday was Robert Rock, whose latest adventure came to an end with a three and two defeat against American Mark Wilson.

What a shame the man who beat Tiger in Abu Dhabi and Adam Scott in the first round here hadn’t been playing one of the big boys. He’d have probably won.