THE SIDELINES : Briton Hands Ballesteros Worst Defeat in 15 World Matchplays

Britain’s Ronan Rafferty inflicted the worst defeat Seve Ballesteros has suffered in 15 World Matchplay golf championship appearances when he overwhelmed the Spaniard, 8 and 6, today in the first round.

Rafferty scorched round Wentworth’s 6,945-yard West Course in a record 62 in the morning to take a six-hole lead into lunch, then wrapped it up with a 12-foot putt on the 12th hole of the afternoon round.

PGA champion Wayne Grady of Australia came from four down after 15 holes to defeat Bernhard Langer of West Germany, 4 and 2. Chip Beck of Fayetteville, N.C., ousted Japanese rookie Ryoken Kawagishi, 4 and 3, and Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe subdued Texan Billy Ray Brown, 4 and 2.