"I don't think I looked like winning a hole [against Vijay Singh}. . . I was trying to avoid losing 7&6, " said the Dubliner. "I was never threatening, but he let me back in three-putting the 12th and 15th.

"My routine is in pieces. That's what you lose when you take a winter break and I need weeks of practice. Vijay would probably have played better if I had played better, that's for sure."

The remaininng quarter-finals saw Retief Goosen take on American Zach Johnson, England's David Howell against Geoff Ogilvy and American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman against Tiger Woods' conqueror Chad Campbell. First prize in today's final is $1.3m.