Ernie Els delivered the first big shock of this year’s WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship in bundling World No. 1 and defending champion, Luke Donald out of the Arizona event.

Donald was not match for the four time Major winning Els who handed the Englishman a 5 & 4 drubbing on the Dove Mountain course

Els only managed to find his way into the event after both Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey withdrew.

But Els displayed all the worth of capturing

Donald was never giving a chance in their match with Els going 1up at the third hole when Donald conceeded the hole to Els.

Donald got back to all squar with a birdie at the seventh but Els then won the eight and ninth and though the 10th halved Donald knew the writing was on the wall when his South African rival went 4up by winning 11th and 13th holes after Donald bogeyed both.

Donald then extended his hand to Els in defeat after losing the par four 14th to an Els birdie.

The result is Donald’s biggest defeat since Australia’s Nick O’Hern handed out a similir 5 & 4 thrashing in Donald’s third round and maiden appearance in the event in 2005.

And it is the second occasion Els has bundled out Donald after an injury on the 18th tee in their third third round showdown in 2009 forced the England golfer to withdraw.