Four Aussies through day one at Accenture
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2007 Accenture Match Play Championship | Round One | 22 Feb 2007
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy was impressive today defeating American Steve Stricker 4 and 3 in the first round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.
In what he described as his best round he has played all year, Ogilvy disposed of Stricker, the 2001 champion at the Dove Mountain course without dropping a shot and closing out the match with four birdies in five holes.
“I didn’t make any bogeys and I birdied the holes I needed to birdie, the par-fives and the two par-fours that we could hit right up next to the green. I thought about (being defending champion) on the first tee, but once I got off the first tee it was just another match.”
Fellow Aussies Nick O’Hern, the in-form Aaron Baddeley and Rod Pampling also advanced to the second round of the $US8 million event but Adam Scott, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Richard Green and Michael Campbell were all eliminated.
Baddeley led all the way against Japan’s Shingo Katayama after an opening birdie, but in the end had to battle to the 18th hole to win 1-up.
“It was tight the whole way,” said Baddeley, playing his first match play event since turning professional in 2000. “He was really steady.”
O’Hern, ever consistent and well known for his defeat of Tiger Woods at the 2005 event beat American Lucas Glover 4 and 3.
“I played lovely, lots of fairways and greens, pretty boring old me really,” he said after a bogey-free performance. “I got up early, and I think that ‘s the key to match play. I’ve always loved the format, because I’m not the longest hitter and I tend to be hitting my second shots first. I just made sure he didn’t have any easy holes.”
Rod Pampling had little trouble against South Korea’s Y.E. Yang, winning 5 and 4.
Adam Scott went down to the wire against American Shaun Micheel sinking a five metre birdie putt to be equal at the 18th but Micheel outlasted him winning 1 up on the third extra hole.
Robert Allenby, in the best form on paper of all the aussies heading into the event took an early lead but South African Tim Clark caused the upset for the aussie prevailing to win 2 and 1.
Stuart Appleby was defeated 4 and 3 by a red hot Charles Howell III, full of confidence and in fine form after his win at last weeks Nissan Open.
Michael Campbell was no match for Justin Rose who won 6 and 5.
Left handers Victorian Richard Green and American Phil Mickelson had a good contest but Mickelson held on to be one up at the finish.
Source – PGA Tour
