Emotional WD for Day, Spieth and McIlroy lose in match play debutsEmotional WD for Day, Spieth and McIlroy lose in match play debuts
AUSTIN, Texas – Notes and observations from Wednesday’s opening round of the World Golf Championships – Dell Technologies Match Play, where some big names were taken down on the course, and the defending champion took himself out for personal reasons. For more coverage from Austin Country Club, click here for the Daily Wrap-up. BIG NAMES LOSE Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are among those facing an uphill battle to make the sweet 16 in Austin as eight of the top 16 seeded players – and four of the top five – were unable to forge victories against their lower-ranked opponents. While top-seed Dustin Johnson had no problem dispatching Webb Simpson 5-and-3, the same could not be said for McIlroy (2), Jason Day (3), Hideki Matsuyama (4) and Spieth (5). It’s the first time in tournament history that just one of the top-5 seeds won in the first round. McIlroy was taken down by Denmark’s 62nd-seeded Soren Kjeldsen, 2-and-1, early to set the upset tone. To be fair the Dane was on fire. He was 6 under through 17 holes on the way to victory. “I played well. If I had of played anyone else I might have won,” McIlroy said. “Soren played great. I think I have to give him credit. He played really, really well, from the first hole.” Spieth was the next skittle to fall – getting trounced by Japan’s Hideto Tanihara (54) 4-and-2. Unlike McIlroy, the Texan – who went to college at the University of Texas — was far from crisp. “Just an off day. Played a really good opponent. Plays a simple game. Point A to Point B,” Spieth said. “He only made one mistake all day. I didn’t capitalize on the opportunities that I had early. I was a little behind the eight ball and just didn’t have my best stuff.” In order to qualify for the single elimination weekend portion of competition, players must win their group, meaning McIlroy and Spieth now need help from other results. At this stage, they no longer control their own destinies. Day, the defending champion, was 3 down against Pat Perez (56) through six holes before withdrawing from the tournament. The 10-time PGA TOUR winner revealed his mother Dening is suffering from potentially terminal lung cancer and is scheduled for surgery on Friday, leaving the Australian to return to her side. Matsuyama had a putt to win his match on the 18th green against 51st seed Jim Furyk but couldn’t convert, instead settling for a halved contest. SOUTH AFRICANS, SPANIARDS START WELL Thanks to Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace all getting off to winning starts, the odds are good for South African fans seeing some weekend love. With all three in separate quadrants of the bracket, it is conceivable they could each make the final four — although there is plenty of water left to flow under the bridge. Oosthuizen is no stranger to success in Austin, having finished runner up last year. Spain, meanwhile, also had a good day, with two wins (Jon Rahm and Rafa Cabrera Bello) and a halved match from Sergio Garcia. Sadly, the good run for Spain cannot last with Rahm and Garcia in the same group and slated to play against each other Friday. If one of them advances, their reward could be a round of 16 date with countryman Cabrera Bello. Only one can conceivably make the quarterfinals and beyond. “I feel as a Spaniard, I love match play, and we all do, and normally we’re good at it,” Rahm said after his 3-and-2 win over Kevin Chappell. “Possibly all three Spaniards are playing against each other in two rounds, which is not great for Spanish golf, in general, but obviously we’re going to have a lot of fun with it.” UH, GONNA GIVE ME IT? William McGirt is making his first start at the Dell Technologies Match Play. He doesn’t have a ton of experience in this format — the last time was 10 years ago on the eGolf Tour. It showed when he failed to concede Brandt Snedeker’s 2-1/2 foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th. It wasn’t for gamesmanship purposes. He just forgot. “He’s like, ‘I’ll wait.’ I’m like, ‘OK.’ “ McGirt said. “I don’t even think about going, ‘Hey, that’s good.’ It’s been so long.” McGirt said he apologized to Snedeker, who didn’t consider it an issue. McGirt ended up beating Snedeker 2 up. WEDNESDAY’S SUPERLATIVES Match of the Day – The Ryan Moore-Yuta Ikeda match had four lead changes in the final five holes. Moore was 1 up going to 18, but Ikeda stuck his approach inside 5 feet and made the birdie to halve the match. Player of the Day – Brooks Koepka. No one had a hotter putter than Koepka, who rolled in nearly 130 feet of putts in just 13 holes in routing Kevin Kisner. Koepka made five putts outside 15 feet, including a 39-footer. Biggest upset – Soren Kjeldsen, the 62nd seed, knocking off No. 2 seed Rory McIlroy. It was the biggest disparity of any lower seed beating a higher seed. Honorable mention to K.T. Kim, the 64th and last seed in the field, knocking off the 11th seed, reigning Masters champ Danny Willett. Kim did it in unusual fashion, winning seven holes but making only one birdie. Most birdies made – Soren Kjeldsen and Brooks Koepka each made seven. Koepka did his in 13 holes, Kjeldsen in 17. Most holes won – Daniel Berger with eight in his rout of J.B. Holmes Quote of the day – “I was an angry little man out there today” – Tyrrell Hatton after missing a 4-foot, 4-inch birdie putt at the par-5 12th. WHERE THEY ENDED A look at where each winner on Wednesday ended his match. Obviously the fewer holes played, the fresher you may be if you advance to the weekend: 6th – Perez (Day WD) 13th – Koepka, Schwartzel, Berger 14th – Na 15th – D. Johnson, Oosthuizen, Cabrera Bello, Mickelson 16th – Kaymer, Noren, Pieters, Tanihara, Woodland, Grace, Rahm, Leishman, Kim, Knox 17th – Casey, Kjeldsen, Hatton, Thomas 18th – Fleetwood, Wiesberger, Watson, McGirt 18th (halved) – Kuchar/Steele, Reed/Dufner, Matsuyama/Furyk, Moore/Ikeda, Garcia/Lowry SHOT OF THE DAY CALL OF THE DAY BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
