It might not be fair to make an appraisal of a player's ability over a mere 18 holes, but such a contest at least makes for an exciting spectacle. The WCG Accenture Match Play began in Tucson, Arizona yesterday, affording the viewer at least one surprising outcome as top seed Steve Stricker was bested by Ross McGowan.
McGowan was only playing at all because Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had both stayed away from the competition. The Englishman came here as bottom seed, but he held his own against Stricker, who recently leapfrogged Mickelson to take the No. 2 place in the world rankings.
The pair couldn't be separated over 18 holes, Stricker's early two-hole lead being whittled down along, seemingly, with the American's self-belief. McGowan went 1up for the first time against Stricker on the 14th, with the pair ending the Dove Mountain course all square. On the first extra hole, though, McGowan held his nerve to take par while the American bogeyed, sealing his early exit.
McGowan's achievement was somewhat overshadowed by the announcement that Tiger Woods is to make a public statement addressing his plans for the future on Friday, but McGowan won't be too disappointed to avoid the media limelight if he can continue to impress on the course.
After the round, the 27-year-old said: "I fancied my chances, I knew I had a good chance at the beginning of the day. I had a shaking start, but played really nicely from about the fifth or sixth. It is nice to win and get through for tomorrow.” McGowan faces Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa in the second round later today.
Rory McIlroy may have been fancied to beat 16th seed Kevin Na, but having been four down after six holes the fourth-seeded Ulsterman did well to peg back the Korean-American, finally squaring the score on the 16th before taking the lead for the first time - and thus victory - on the 18th. McIlroy admitted: "I think I hung in well, but was pretty fortunate to get through and I'll need to play better if I want to progress into the latter stages." He now faces England's Oliver Wilson in the second round.
Lee Westwood breezed through his match against fellow countryman Chris Wood on 3 & 1, and takes on California's Nick Watney later today. If Westwood performs well over the next few days he can improve his world ranking - overall victory here could even see the Englishman take Stricker's No. 2 spot.
Padraig Harrington and England's Ross Fisher were amongst those who went out in the opening round, Harrington losing to India's Jeev Milkha Singh 3 and 1 while Fisher took a heavy beating at the hands of Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, losing 5 & 4. Ian Poulter beat Justin Leonard on the first extra hole after the pair finished 18 holes all square, while Paul Casey comfortably beat Canadian Stephen Ames 5 & 4.
The biggest win of the day came for Canada's Mike Weir, who beat Spaniard Alvaro Quiroz by 8 & 6, having birdied nine of the first ten holes. Weir now takes on Casey in the second round. Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy also had an easy time of it, beating Alex Noren 7 & 5.
Of the remaining Europeans, Sweden's Robert Karlsson, Denmark's Anders Hansen, Germany's Martin Kaymer and Spain's Sergio Garcia all made in into the last 32. Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari both lost, while Sweden's Henrik Stenson withdrew because of illness, having played just one hole.
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