Woods in quarterfinals of Match Play competition

Tiger Woods raced into the quarterfinals of the WGC-World Match Play Championship by brushing aside Swede Fredrik Jacobson 5 and 4 in the third round on Friday.

Woods, the world number one and defending champion, now meets Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who put out last year's beaten finalist David Toms one up at La Costa Resort & Spa.

Britain's Ian Poulter and Darren Clarke also reached the last eight.

Poulter defeated John Huston 2 and 1 to set up a clash with Australia's Stephen Leaney, who defeated Britain's Colin Montgomerie one up. Clarke downed Kenny Perry 3 and 2 and next faces Jerry Kelly, who edged Chad Campbell one up.

The fourth quarter-final will be an all-American showdown between Davis Love III and Phil Mickelson. Love swept past Australian Adam Scott 4 and 3 while Mickelson knocked out Chris DiMarco 3 and 2.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held on Saturday after heavy rain washed out play on Thursday, forcing the competitors to play the second and third rounds on Friday.

Woods's first-round struggle in a one-up win over John Rollins was a distant memory as he powered past South African Trevor Immelman 5 and 4 before dismissing Jacobson by an identical margin.

Never behind in either contest, Woods was six-under-par for 28 holes as he took his record in the championship to 17-3 and his winning streak to nine matches.

"I played well all day," Woods told reporters. "I think what's important is I kept the pressure on my opponent all day.

Harrington was pleased to progress to the next round.

"Relieved to get through in the end because I was struggling a little bit on the back nine," he said.