Round one claims four Australians
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 Accenture Match Play Championship | Round One | 24 Feb 2011
Day one of the Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain in Arizona is done and three of the leading four seeds and the heads of the four respective groups are through, the notable exception being Tiger Woods who was beaten by Thomas Bjorn in a closely fought match.
Bjorn won the 19th hole to defeat the World Number three and although neither player impressed, Bjorn did enough to continue Woods’ struggles after being conceded the first extra hole.
Woods was one of three players from the world top ten who lost on day one, the others being Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker. Stricker was beaten by Italian teenager Matteo Manassero while Furyk went down to Ryan Palmer.
It was a poor day for the Australians with only four of the six in the field making in through to round two. Jason Day impressed with what in the end was a comfortable 3&2 victory over Kyung tae Kim although he was still behind in the match through ten holes. Day plays Paul Casey in round two.
Geoff Ogilvy was the other victor after winning his first hole and maintaining the lead throughout in his match against Padraig Harrington. He won by a 4&3 margin and will play Woods’ conqueror, Bjorn, in round two.
Robert Allenby went down to England’s Ross Fisher 4&3 after winning the first hole and staying in touch through the first seven holes.
Adam Scott, playing with the long putter for the first time in competition, went two down early and never recovered, losing to Ben Crane 4&2.
Richard Green had a tough opening match when drawn against the man who has been runner-up in this event in each of the last two years but gave a very good account of himself all the same. He lost at the 19th hole after missing a five foot match saving putt. There was never more than 1 hole between the pair throughout.
Brendan Jones not only had to battle Phil Mickelson in round one but he was further impaired by a foot blister. He went down early when he bogeyed the first and was never able to get back into the match.
