Graeme McDowell has been eliminated in the first round of the World Match Play Championship by YE Yang. The Northern Irishman was beaten 2&1 by the South Korean in the knockout event in Dove Mountain, Arizona.

England's Ian Poulter also dropped out of the 64-man tournament after he was defeated 4&3 by Yang's countryman, Sang-Moon Bae.

In another of the first round ties, Scotland's Paul Lawrie edged a close encounter with England's Justin Rose.

Former US Open winner McDowell led after five holes but birdies from Yang on the next two, plus a double-bogey from McDowell on the ninth, saw his opponent take control.

"I ran into a man that played extremely well," McDowell said. "I felt like I had to follow him all day long, and I did most of the day, but he didn't put a foot wrong.

"I made six birdies today. You just run into the wrong guy on the wrong day, and you have got your work cut out. I didn't take care of business, so I'm disappointed, yeah."

Sixth-seed Poulter is also out of the competition after he lost to 11th seed, Bae. The Korean profited from Poulter's bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 14th to set up a clash with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

In the all-British tie, Rose registered three bogeys in the first eight holes to fall to his third first round elimination in his last four starts at the tournament.

Lawrie took advantage of Rose's slack opening to complete a 1 up victory and will meet Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, who beat the USA's Bill Haas 1 up, in the second round.