Australians Jason Day and Marcus Fraser both advanced to the second round of the WGC Match Play Championship, while Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood all bowed out. None of the 21 matches out on the course had been completed on Wednesday and 11 were yet to start when heavy snowfall blanketed The Golf Club near Dove Mountain, Arizona. When play did restart a day later, there were several big name casualties, as Irishman Shane Lowry defeated world number one McIlroy one up. Woods, a 14-time major champion, was dumped out by fellow American Charles Howell III, losing 2 and 1. Englishman Westwood, the world number eight, fell at the first hurdle, with Spaniard Rafael Cabrera Bello beating him one up after 19 holes. Cabrera Bello will face Martin Kaymer in the next round following the German&aposs 2 and 1 victory over George Coetzee. Day resumed his match with Zach Johnson six up through 10 holes, and he posted a comfortable 6 and 5 victory over the American. It took Day less than three holes of play on Thursday to book a second-round date with Russell Henley, who upset South African Charl Schwartzel with a one-up win. Fraser made a clutch putt on the 17th hole before holding on for a one-up victory over American Keegan Bradley. He will meet Fredrik Jacobson in the second round, after the Swede beat Ernie Els one up. Adam Scott did not fare as well, however, losing in the first round for the seventh straight time at the tournament when Tim Clark of South Africa beat him 2 and 1, while John Senden was bundled out by Bo Van Pelt 6 and 5. South African Richard Sterne ousted Jason Dufner one up, and continuing the trend of surprises, Swede Alexander Noren downed big-hitting American Dustin Johnson 6 and 4. Defending champion Hunter Mahan advanced courtesy of a 5 and 4 win over Italian Matteo Manassero, while 2012 US Open winner Webb Simpson saw off David Lynn by the same score. In a Scandinavian showdown, Swede Peter Hanson overcame fellow European Tour veteran Thomas Bjorn of Denmark 3 and 2. Jim Furyk won an all-American match against Ryan Moore 4 and 2. Masters champion Bubba Watson edged Chris Wood, beating the Englishman 2 and 1, and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland gained a measure of revenge for compatriot McIlroy&aposs surprise loss, beating the Republic of Ireland&aposs Padraig Harrington two up. World number three Luke Donald of England was pushed hard by Marcel Siem, eventually beating the German one up. Ian Poulter of England defeated Scotland&aposs Stephen Gallacher 2 and 1, and there were heavy victories for Americans Nick Watney and Steve Stricker, beating American David Toms and Swede Henrik Stenson respectively. Thorbjorn Olesen, Scott Piercy and Matt Kuchar all advanced to the next round. And they were joined by Sergio Garcia, Nicolas Colsaerts and Justin Rose. The other first-round winners on Thursday were Louis Oosthuizen and Robert Garrigus. Two matches were still to be completed at close of play, with Carl Pettersson one up over Rickie Fowler through 17 holes, while Francesco Molinari and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano were all square through 15 holes.
Author: Omnisport