Cejka, last man into the 12-man field following the withdrawal of six Americans including Tiger Woods, was inside Singh both times, but missed from 25 feet at the first and 20 feet on the next.

Cejka lost the third "against the head" as well.

He was on in two whereas Singh went in sand, but after the former Masters and USPGA champion saved par by splashing out to two feet Cejka three-putted from 40 feet and fell three down.

First match out was between South African Tim Clark and Australian Stephen Leaney for the right to face holder Ernie Els in the quarter-finals on Friday.

The pair shared the first three holes in regulation figures. Leaney, runner-up to Jim Furyk in the US Open in June, then drew first blood with a birdie at the long fourth.

Leaney was back to all square when he failed to get up and down from a bunker on the fifth, while Campbell's eight-foot birdie putt at the second put him ahead against Jacobson.

Singh and Cejka were duelling for a game against USPGA champion Shaun Micheel, while Open champion Ben Curtis was waiting for either Fredrik Jacobson or Chad Campbell.

Masters champion Mike Weir was anticipating a clash between Thomas Bjorn or Len Mattiace.

Jacobson got away with a half at the first after hooking his drive and clipping trees. He nearly finished in a hospitality tent, but still made his par four.

Bjorn and Mattiace, runners-up in the Open and Masters respectively, shared the first in par fours.

A first prize of £1m (€1.4m), the second biggest ever offered for a golf tournament, was on offer.