VIRGINIA WATER, England — Unbeatable for two months, Tiger Woods' winning streak finally ended Thursday when Shaun Micheel knocked him out in the first round of the World Match Play Championship.

Woods had a 15-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to keep alive his slim hopes, but he removed his cap and walked over to shake hands with Micheel as the ball was still rolling. The score was 4 and 3, matching Woods' worst loss in match play.

His winning streak began about four hours away at Hoylake, where Woods won the British Open for the first of five straight victories that restored some of his mystique.

Jim Furyk, who rose to No. 2 in the world ranking by winning the Canadian Open on Sunday, lost to Robert Karlsson of Sweden, 6 and 4, highlighting a first round in which six of the higher seeds were beaten.