Carlsbad, Calif. ? Arms crossed, staring into the soul of his opponent, Tiger Woods looked as though he was wrapped up in one of those nerve-racking moments that define the Match Play Championship.

Far, far from it.

Ruthless to the end until his name was in the record books Wednesday, Woods won the first nine holes – seven of them with birdies – and closed out Stephen Ames as early as mathematically possible, 9 and 8.

“It’s been awhile since I played one like that,” Woods said with a smile.

He didn’t have to look far for motivation.

Ames was on the practice range Monday afternoon when he was asked if he would take a carefree attitude into his match against the No. 1 player in the world because not many expected him to win. Ames shook his head.

“Anything can happen,” Ames said, breaking into a big smile. “Especially where he’s hitting the ball.”

Stephen Ames, left, congratulates Tiger Woods after Woods defeated him, 9 and 8, in the Match Play Championship. Woods won the first-round match Wednesday in Carlsbad, Calif.

Woods apparently took his comments seriously. Ames never had a chance.

“Tiger played exceptionally well,” Ames said. Then he looked over to confer with Woods on how many birdies he made on the front nine and he added with heavy sarcasm, “It was a rough nine for Tiger.”

“If he continues playing the way he’s playing, he should walk away with this – easily,” Ames said.

Not everything is easy in the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Ernie Els returned to La Costa Resort for the first time in three years and left with a familiar result, losing on the 18th hole to 48-year-old Bernhard Langer. The Big Easy never has made it out of the second round at La Costa.

The other top seeds, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, had no problem, and Phil Mickelson (No. 5) had to go 18 holes before getting rid of Charles Howell III.

But it was particularly tough for Scott Verplank, who matched the tournament record by going 26 holes before he finally got past Lee Westwood of England. Verplank spent six hours on the course.