The first day of the World Match Play has seen defeats for recent Arnold Palmer Invitational Champion Rory McIlroy and world number one Dustin Johnson.
The Austin Country Club saw the two results in the round robin stage of the tournament.
McIlroy was playing Peter Uihlein, and the American had the Northern Irishman pinned at five down through ten holes. A late comeback from McIlroy was not enough ultimately, as Uihein took a 2&1 victory.
Johnson appeared to be horrifically off-form, as he battled with Bernd Wiesberger. The 52nd seed ultimately claimed the victory, 3&1.
Despite arriving at the tournament as favourite, McIlroy failed to build on his win at Bay Hill last weekend, and couldn’t manage a single birdie on the outward nine.
Despite his late run, the 28-year-old knew he’ll have to perform better to progress in the competition:
I made him earn it at least, and I made the scoreline a little more respectable,
I didn’t necessarily play badly, but Peter played pretty well and he didn’t make a bogey all day so it was hard to claw my way back. I made a run at him at the end, but it was a little too late.
I’ll just have to forget it and go on to tomorrow. Obviously it’s out of my control now, so I’ve just got to win my next two matches and hopefully the draw works in my favour.
McIlroy will play Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela in Round Two.
