McIlroy scrapes through
World number one Rory McIlroy posted a win in his first tie at the World Golf Championship Cadillac Matchplay despite an inconsistent performance.
The Northern Irishman beat Jason Dufner 5&4 on Wednesday, the first day of the round-robin stage which continues on Thursday and Friday.
“I felt like tee to green I played pretty well. I didn’t hole many putts and felt that the green speeds were pretty inconsistent, but did what I needed to do and we move on,” he told Sky Sports.
McIlroy has been placed in Group 1 of the tournament and will face Brandt Snedeker on Thursday before playing Billy Horschel in his last round-robin match on Friday.
“It’s good to win that first match. Luckily I’ve done that and the mindset going into (Thursday) is I have to win,” he said.
“You have to win every match. There’s no point in thinking you can’t win matches and progress here.
“I need to hole a few more putts. Jason didn’t have his best stuff, obviously, so I just tried to put him under pressure from the start, tried to hit fairways, hit greens, and try and make him force a little bit.
“In match play, you just need to beat the person that’s in front of you and I did that today.”
Meanwhile, world number two and Masters Tournament champion Jordan Spieth had a slightly easier day at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Spieth won 4&2 against Finland’s Mikko Ilonen, who triumphed at the Volvo World Match Play Championship at the London Club last year.
“It’s good to get off to a good start. I played solid golf,” Spieth said.
“It got a little interesting there on the back nine but a big turnaround on 12 and 13 to get three up and close it out on 16. I’m extremely pleased.”
However, not all of the top seeds had it their way on Wednesday. Third seed Henrik Stenson, Zurich Classic of New Orleans winner Justin Rose and Jason Day all crashed to succumbed surprise defeats.
Stenson and opponent John Senden were tied after 18 holes, before Senden birdied the 19th to take victory in the game. Rose lost 3&2 to Marc Leishman, while Charley Hoffman defeated Jason Day 4&3.
Latest
-
PGA ChampionshipMatt Fitzpatrick: Falling short at US PGA Championship ‘hurts a hell of a lot’
Fitzpatrick carded a closing three-over-par 73 to miss out on the play-off between eventual winner Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris by two shots.
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA ChampionshipTommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipEmotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA ChampionshipRory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA ChampionshipPaul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA ChampionshipMito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA ChampionshipMatt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.