MARANA, Ariz. --  Webb Simpson birdied two of his first four holes on Thursday and never looked back as he beat England's David Lynn 5 and 4.

Simpson, who is playing in his second World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, never trailed in the match and only lost one hole. He was 3 up at the turn and padded his lead with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 11th.

Simpson made a bogey at the 12th hole that allowed Lynn, who was making his debut at Dove Mountain, to briefly cut into his lead. But Simpson answered with a 4-footer for birdie at the 13th and then won with a concession after Lynn had an adventure in a fairway bunker and took four shots to reach the 14th green.