Reigning US Open champion Justin Rose was beaten at the 20th hole by veteran Ernie Els in the second round of the WGC Match Play Championship.

Rose's undoing came as he failed to get his third shot to the par-five hole out of a bunker, while Els chipped superbly from just wide of the same sand to set up a birdie.

There had been little between the two players throughout, at Dove Mountain, Arizona.

Els eagled the third and birdied the fourth to take an early two-hole lead, but Rose won two of the next three to level and went ahead when the South African bogeyed the 12th.

They were all square at the 18th tee after Rose bogeyed the 17th.

Both players hit poor second shots as Rose found a bunker and Els saw his approach roll back off the green.

Yet there were no nerves on display as both got up and down and then impressively birdied the 19th before the match concluded at the next.