Australian golfer Graham Marsh scored a surprising victory over the United States titleholder Tom Weiskopf in the semi-finals of the Piccadilly World Match Play Tournament at the fashionable Wentworth course near London on Friday (12 October).

In the other semi-final, Gary Player of South Africa stormed to an early lead over the United States Open champion Johnny Miller.

Marsh was two up after 11 holes and Player led by a similar margin after 9 holes. The early lead of Marsh was the greatest surprise -- he was an 8 to 1 outsider of the four survivors while Weiskopf, following his first round brilliance, had hardened to an 11-8 favourite.

SYNOPSIS: American Open Champion Bob Miller and his fellow countryman Tom Weiskopf -- holder of the British Open -- made unexpected departures from the thirty-thousand pound Piccadilly Match Play Tournament at Britain's fashionable Wentworth course near London on Friday.

It was Australia's newest golfing hope, Graham Marsh, who disposed of Weiskopf 4 and 3 -- Miller was beaten by veteran South African Gary Player 3 and 2.

Although Marsh went into the lead and was two up after 11 holes, Weiskopf pulled back a stroke on the thirteenth when he two putted to go down in four to the Australian's five.

At the same hole, Player sank a four against Miller's five and made himself favourite for Saturday's final.

On the thirty-second, the big-hitting Australian squared the hole with the crowd-popular Waiskopf to storm through for a clear victory. He'd started the day an eight-to-one outsider in this premier European Match Play.