Rory McIlroy takes over Lee Westwood only to lose the final at WGC Accenture Match Play Championship
Rory McIlroy managed to overpower the dreaded Lee Westwood but fell short of winning the final round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday, February 26, a title that could have catapulted him to the top slot of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
The 22-year-old Irishman had been contemplating a match with the world number three all week as the only two Europeans who managed to stay alive in the 64-man field.
Winning the semi final against the formidable foe Westwood, McIlroy had all the confidence in the world to land the coveted title later in the afternoon.
However, it was not before long that McIlroy realised his exhaustion after a tough showdown with the Englishman was taking its toll.
McIlroy said after his semi-final, "To me, in a way, it was like my final. That's the one I wanted all week. Maybe mentally and emotionally that did take a lot out of me. But Hunter deserved to win".
Westwood, who was playing the semi final of the Accenture Match Play Championship for the first time in the course of his career, opened up with two blistering birdies on the opening four holes, stepping up pressure on the young Irishman right from the start.
He was 3-up after McIlroy stumbled on a bogey on par-three, 3rd.
McIlroy decided to respond with two consecutive birdies on the next holes, reducing Westwood’s lead to 1-up.
He carded two more birdies to finally clinch the lead before making the turn for the back nine. He never looked back after that.
McIlroy admitted that his stiff battle with the grizzled Westwood had a lasting impact on his subsequent round against the winner Hunter Mahan.
He added, “Yeah, maybe mentally and emotionally it did take a little bit out of me. But it still doesn't take away from the fact that Hunter played very, very solid golf. And even though I threw a few birdies and an eagle at him in the back nine, he still responded well and held on”.
For the moment, McIlroy stays at number two spot on the OWGR. Unlike the top four players in the world, the young Ulsterman has not soared to the top of the OWGR as yet and is hoping to do so since the Race to Dubai Championship December last year.
World number one Luke Donald, who was also the defending champion at WGC Accenture Match Play event, was shown the door in the first round by Ernie Els, providing a rare opportunity for raging McIlroy to surge to the top.
Tags: