Irishman Padraig Harrington and Britain's Luke Donald followed sharply contrasting routes into the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship third round on Thursday.
Harrington came from two down with three holes to play before beating Argentina Angel Cabrera in extra time, while Donald reeled off six birdies in a blemish-free display to oust Japan's Shigeki Maruyama 4&3.
"We played very poorly for a long way into the match," Harrington told reporters after edging the big-hitting Cabrera with a par on the 19th hole at La Costa Resort and Spa.
"I haven't got a consistent swing, I haven't got a consistent anything and it's telling a few times everywhere.
"It was only when I got two down with six to go that I basically forgot everything and tried to get it in the hole," added the Irishman, who was three over for his round after 13 holes before collecting four birdies in the next five holes.
"Four of the last five was very nice, and I missed two short putts on the other two holes.
"My putting was very good but I'm definitely between two golf swings. Actually, the best thing I could have done for the next couple of weeks was to lose today and go practise.
"But that's not the case," said Harrington, who meets Vijay Singh in the third round. "So I'll just get it up and down like I did the last couple of holes today."
Donald, who advanced to the third round on his tournament debut last year before losing to Australia's Nick O'Hern, was delighted with his display against Maruyama.
"That was very good, it was the golf I like to play," he said. "I didn't really give Shigeki a chance.
"I was six under through 15 and I made him make the birdies if he wanted to win a hole.
"I drove it well, hit pretty good irons and made some good putts. I think this course is good for me."
Englishman Donald, who next faces world number three Retief Goosen, is not looking too far ahead.
"You just play every match as it comes," he said. "You just never know. In 18 holes, anything can happen. Until it gets to the final, I don't think you worry about it."