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

WENTWORTH, England — 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.