By Tony Jimenez

VIRGINIA WATER (Reuters) - Tiger Woods's hopes of a remarkable sixth tournament win in a row received a serious jolt when he went three down at the halfway stage of his World Match Play first round clash with Shaun Micheel.

The world number one, making his second appearance at Wentworth eight years after he was beaten in the final by close friend Mark O'Meara, went one up with a par four at the first but his fellow American bounced back with three successive birdies from the third.

A bogey at the sixth by Woods gave Micheel a three-hole advantage on a West Course left wet by heavy overnight rain.

The British Open and U.S. PGA champion reduced his arrears when Micheel dropped a stroke at the seventh before Woods lost another hole by bogeying the ninth.

Woods also bogeyed the 15th to go four down before pulling one back with a birdie at the last.

Micheel, the 2003 U.S. PGA champion, went round in 70 while Woods could only manage a level-par 72.

Holder Michael Campbell was two up on Briton Simon Khan after 22 holes.

The New Zealander, playing in the opening match of the day, went two down when Khan pitched in for a birdie at the ninth.

Campbell clawed his way back to all square after 13 before a birdie at the 16th and an eagle at the 18th left him two up.

Colin Montgomerie was two up on David Howell after 21 holes of their all-British clash.

Retief Goosen was one down on Paul Casey after 20 while Mike Weir was two up on Adam Scott after 19.

Swede Robert Karlsson raced five up on world number two Jim Furyk after 18, Ernie Els was one down on Angel Cabrera and Luke Donald one up on Tim Clark.