Casares, Spain (My Sportsbook) - Anthony Kim rolled to a 4-up win over Retief Goosen in his first outing Thursday at the Volvo World Match Play Championship, then said he was playing his best golf in over a year.

It's no wonder, then, that Kim returned to the Finca Cortesin course and handled world No. 4 Paul Casey for a 3-up victory that gave the American a strong lead in his four-man group.

"I haven't had this much fun playing golf in quite a long time," said Kim, whose victory over Casey ended the top-seeded Englishman's chances of winning this week.

By losing twice on the first day, Casey was denied a chance to move into the semifinals even with one match remaining on Friday. Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer were also eliminated on the first day.

All three players were victims of a new format this year that separated the 16-man field into four equal groups based on the players' world rankings.

The four players in each group compete in an 18-hole round robin format on Thursday and Friday against the other three players in their group. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a tie and zero for a loss.

At the end of Friday, the leading point winner from each group -- four players overall -- will advance to Saturday's 36-hole semifinal matches. The 36-hole final will be played on Sunday.

All matches are played through to the 18th hole so that total number of holes won can be used in case of ties.

"Anyone in this whole field can win, whether it's the guy that's the highest ranked or the guy that's the lowest ranked," said Robert Allenby, who went 1-0-1 for three points.

"It's just that type of format -- it's just a matter of trying to get job done. Even when you have a bad hole, you've just got to try to pick it back up."

Kim was among eight players who contested two matches on Thursday, while the remainder of the field played only once. Those remaining eight players will have two matches on Friday, while Kim's bunch will play one.

Oliver Wilson also won two matches on Thursday, equaling Kim's total of four points to take the lead in his group. The Englishman earned 1-up victories over Garcia and Kaymer.

Allenby stands second in that group with his three points -- he beat Kaymer, 1-up, and halved a match with Garcia -- while Garcia finished with a point and Kaymer was shut out.

Because Garcia and Kaymer only have one match remaining, they are mathematically unable to catch Wilson (or Allenby).

Kim is trailed in his group by Scott Strange, who defeated Casey 1-up in the morning for two points; and Goosen, who later knocked off Strange 1-up for two points of his own.

Casey, battling a torn rib muscle, was left with no points and no chance to catch up with only one match remaining. He was playing for the first time since Aug. 6.

Each player in the other two groups played only one match Thursday -- and all eight remained mathematically in contention.

Masters champion Angel Cabrera rolled to a 5-up victory over Rory McIlroy and Simon Dyson defeated Henrik Stenson 3-up to share the lead in their group with four points apiece.

Jeev Milkha Singh, who pounded Lee Westwood 6-up, and Ross Fisher, who upended Camilo Villegas 2-up, were tied for the lead in the final group with two points each.