• Volvo World Match Play Championship, Quarter-finals

McDowell topples defending champion Colsaerts

Graeme McDowell continues to be the man to beat at Thracian Cliffs © Getty Images

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Graeme McDowell produced a polished display to topple defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts and book his place in the semi-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

In what was a repeat of last year's final, McDowell got his revenge with a comfortable success built on solid play from tee to green.

Colsaerts got ahead early but three birdies in the space of four holes, the highlight being a stunning two on the seventh, took McDowell into the lead.

The Ulsterman took the eighth and a brilliant up and down from McDowell on the ninth ensured he turned with a three-hole lead.

There was a bizarre moment on the 10th hole as Colsaerts went way off line and was blocked out by a toilet. His nearest point of relief was in the toilet, so he had to go through the charade of dropping the ball in the toilet before being granted line of sight relief back down the fairway. Amazingly, the Belgian escaped with a half.

McDowell's first mistake of the round came on the 13th and getting out of position off the tee cost him a hole and allowed Colsaerts to get within two.

Having played near flawless golf for 12 holes, McDowell followed his error on 13 with a fluffed chip on 14 and it brought Colsaerts to within one. But McDowell steadied the ship and closed out the match when Colsaerts missed a putt on 17.

Branden Grace was the first man into the last four following a comfortable 2&1 win over Chris Wood. The South African's reward is a clash with McDowell.

Thomas Aiken derailed the previously in-form Francesco Molinari with a 3&2 victory and he will play Thongchai Jaidee who was too good for Scott Jamieson.

Volvo World Match Play Championship
Branden Grace beat Chris Wood 2&1
Thomas Aiken beat Francesco Molinari 3&2
Graeme McDowell beat Nicolas Colsaerts 2&1
Thongchai Jaidee beat Scott Jamieson 4&3

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