Luke Donald defeats Matteo Manassero to move into quarter-finals at WGC Accenture Match Play
In a sizzling match of what many regarded as the battle of flare verses method, Luke Donald dumped young Matteo Manassero to qualify for the quarter-finals of WGC Accenture Championship. Manassero, who was definitely in high spirits after his back-to-back
wins against Steve Stricker and Charl Schwartzel, was not able to hold his ground against the much experienced Donald. The Englishman crushed Manassero’s bid to the quarter-finals with a tight 3 & 2.
Donald’s birdies at the first and fourth overpowered the young Italian who bogeyed the next hole. Manassero came back to claim the eight hole, but that did not prove enough to contain the Englishman, as he banged ahead hitting a 20 footer birdie for the
next. He went on with his excellent putts even when he had driven his ball in a bunker, to go five up on the 10th. Manassero managed to put a decent fight when he landed an eagle for the 13th and birdied the 15th but Donald,
who was in no mood to step down, claimed the last eight in seven attempts.
Donald said, "I just played nicely throughout the bag really. Five birdies, no bogeys - I made Matteo work for it. I worked hard in the off season and it's nice to see it paying off."
World number nine, Englishman, Luke Donald has not been able to record a victory in the past five years in America. With this victory he has climbed the world ranking to the number three spot, trailing behind Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer and just ahead
of Greame Mcdowell, who currently holds the number fourth position. The championship, so far, has been predominantly a European affair, as Donald is England’s only hope after Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, all crashed out in the second round.
Donald will now face the American Ryan Moore, who defeated Nick Watney in the second round, in the quarter-final. The schedule of the championship had to be altered in the wake of bad weather predictions, as now both quarter-finals and semi-finals will now
be played on Saturday.
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