Paul Casey struggled on his return to golf - and lost his opening match in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain to a player ranked 164 places below him.

Out since August 6 because of a torn rib muscle, top seed Casey went down to Australian Scott Strange, the world number 168, when he missed a seven-foot birdie chance on the last.

It does not mean the end for Casey, though. Under the tournament's new group format the Ryder Cup player still has to play American Anthony Kim this afternoon and South African Retief Goosen tomorrow.

Asked how he felt, Casey admitted: "Not great. I can't swing the way I want.

"I'm coming out of a lot of the shots. Scott played well, but having said that I gave him three holes on the front and you can't do that against anybody in this field."

Behind him Kim was three up on Goosen playing the last - every game goes to the 18th green and 'holes up' could decide who goes through to the semi-finals.

In Group B, meanwhile, England's Oliver Wilson, who missed yesterday's pro-am after waking up with neck trouble, came from one down after 13 to be one up with three to go and Australian Robert Allenby led German Martin Kaymer by one after 14.

Kaymer finished second last week in his first event since breaking toes in a go-kart crash two months ago, but right from the first hole today he was again limping and that had to count against him.

To win the title requires playing 36 holes on three of the four days, although the hilly terrain of the Finca Cortesin course meant that the field were given 10 short buggy rides during each round.