McIlroy exits the Accenture Match Play Championship after facing defeat from Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry of Ireland parred the final hole in the match against world number one Rory McIlroy, in the first stage of the World Golf Championship – Accenture Match Play Championship, to force the Northern Irishman to exit the tournament.
The tournament is the first WGC of the 2013 season, and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour, offering a total prize fund of US$ 8.75 million, to its participants.
Both the players started their campaign with pars on the first hole. McIlroy took 2UP lead, after Lowry conceded bogeys on the second and the fourth hole.
Thereafter, the Irishman made a strong comeback, by gaining points on the fifth and the sixth hole, and the score went all square. At the end of the front nine, McIlroy once again had a 1UP lead, as he parred the ninth hole, against Lowry’s bogey putt.
However, Lowry did not lose control over his nerves and went on taking a 2UP lead, by securing points on the 10th, 12th and the 13th hole.
The 14th hole witnessed McIlroy reducing his deficit to one point, after Lowry failed to match McIlroy’s par putt. On the 15th hole, Lowry earned a conceded eagle, to go 2UP once again.
McIlroy tried to make a comeback again by earning a point on the 16th hole. However, the last two holes witnessed both the players recording par putts, which earned Lowry a 1UP victory against his team-mate in amateur days.
"To make par on the last was great and to beat him was even better,” Lowry said. "My knees were knocking over that final putt. I managed a couple of chip-ins which were huge - I had a bit of luck that I needed and I said to my caddie that he's not going
to be liking this at all”.
McIlroy, in the meantime, was really disappointed with his performance in the match. He will now fly back home, and will make preparations for the upcoming events.
"I drove really well, but couldn't take advantage of that. If I'd hit my irons better it could have been a different story,” he said.
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