WORLD No.5 Taj Burrow bombed out of the Margaret River Pro on Thursday after tangling with a rival surfer as they both attempted to catch the same wave.

Burrow and fellow Australian Lincoln Taylor bumped into each other as they set off on the same wave during their four-man heat on Thursday.

The judges ruled the collision to be a double-interference, meaning both surfers were docked half of their score for their second-scoring wave.

Burrow managed an eight-point wave after that, but it wasn't enough to finish in the top two, with Brazilians Jadson Andre and Caio Ibelli making it through to the second round.

Reigning world champion Joel Parkinson was also eliminated earlier in the tournament after being dealt an interference penalty.

Other big-name surfers to be bundled out include Willian Cardoso, Heitor Alves, brothers CJ and Damien Hobgood, Brett Simpson, Sebastian Zietz, and Australian trio Kai Otton, Kieren Perrow and Matt Wilkinson.

Given the men's event won't be on the main tour until next year, the result doesn't impact on the 2013 title hopes of any of the leading surfers.

Jordy Smith, Adrian Buchan, Adrian De Souza, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr all safely progressed through to the round of 48.

In the women's event, which is already a part of the World Championship tour, top seed Stephanie Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons and Carissa Moore all failed to win their round-three match-ups and were sent into elimination heats in round four.

But the trio came up with the goods when it mattered to secure their place in the quarterfinals.

