Round 1 Update From the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship
After Wednesday’s weather transformed Dove Mountain from a golf course to a winter wonderland full of snow and ice, golfers returned Thursday to either finish or start their first round matchups in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship. Just like they did the day before, they waited around for hours on Thursday as they waited for conditions to become favorable enough to play as well as course staff to finish shoveling snow off of most of the fairways and greens. It ended up being a one-and-done day for 32 golfers, several of which are some of the top golfers in the world. Here is a recap from day one, including updates on how the local golfers are doing.
Shane Lowry defeats Rory Mcllroy (Palm Beach Gardens), 1 up: Mcllroy came out hot, going 2-up early on in the match. Lowry tied it up on the sixth hole and never looked back. He made a run on the back nine including a chip in birdie on 12 and an eagle on the 13th to get a two hole lead. Lowry made his par putt on 18 to seal the victory against his fellow Irishman and Palm Beach Gardens resident.
Charles Howell III defeats Tiger Woods (Jupiter Island), 2 & 1: Woods played a day of bogey free golf, shooting 2-under, but it wasn’t enough as to beat Howell in their first meeting since they were both amateurs in 1996. Howell never trailed on his way to a bogey free 4-under par day. He hit a wedge shot that stopped inches from the cup on 15 and followed it up with a 25-foot birdie on 16 to win the match and send Tiger home after the first round for the second time in his last three starts.
Luke Donald (Old Palm) defeats Marcel Siem, 1-up: Luke Donald was one of the few higher seeds to win on what turned out to be upset Thursday at Dove Mountain. Donald, the 2011 champion, made six birdies on the day including two on the final holes to fight off the comeback from Siem who was making his Match Play debut. Donald will face Scott Piercy in the second round on Friday. Piercy defeated Paul Lawrie 4-and-3 in the opening round.
Marcus Fraser defeats Keegan Bradley (Tequesta), 1 up: Fraser and Bradley battled all day Thursday. Neither had more than a one shot lead on the other at any point during the day. The difference ended up being a 27 foot birdie putt that Fraser sunk on the 17th that ultimately gave him the victory. Bradley could not take advantage of Marcus’s bogey on 18, bogeying himself to give Fraser the upset win that ended being common place on day one. Fraser will face another local resident when he takes on Hobe Sound resident Fredrik Jacobson in round two.
Alexander Noren defeats Dustin Johnson (Loxahatchee River), 6 & 4: Alexander Noren bogeyed the first hole and then never looked back. In only his second start at the event, he posted seven birdies on his way to a pretty comfortable win against the Loxahatchee River resident. He was 3 up through six, 4 up through eight, and reeled off four consecutive birdies on the back nine. Next up for the Swedish player, a matchup against the 5th seeded Graeme McDowell.
Fredrik Jacobson (Hobe Sound) defeats Ernie Els (Bears Club), 1 up: Jacobson battled back from being down two early to beat Ernie Els. He turned things around and by the time the two hit the back nine he was all square again. Jacobson birdied 11 and 12 to go 2 up but Els didn’t give up. Els won two out of the next three holes to square the match back up at the 15th. Jacobson took down the match with a par putt on the 18th, while Els three putted.
Carl Peterson defeats Rickie Fowler (Loxahatchee River), 1 up (19 holes): Rickie Fowler made an attempt at a late comeback but it fell short. Fowler was 2 down going into the 17th hole before birdying 17 and 18 to send the match to sudden death. Fowler bogeyed the extra hole to get the win and will take on Shane Lowry in round 2.
Other notable results from day one had the final 1 seed Louis Oostuzien (Old Palm) defeating Richie Ransay 2 and 1. Defending champion Hunter Mahan had no problems getting past his first round opponent Matteo Manassero, defeating the Italian 5 and 4.
For a complete list of results as well as an updated bracket from day one please visit www.pgatour.com.
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