Golf
Mixed fortunes for South Africans on day 1 of World Match Play─── 08:52 Thu, 30 Apr 2015
Defending champion Jason Day, world number three Henrik Stenson and Johannesburg-born 2015 Masters runner-up Justin Rose all lost their opening rounds of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco, while the four South African experienced mixed fortunes.
Luckily for the trio and fans, duo to the new format they get to fight another two day, however the pressure will be only to make it into the next round.
World number one, Rory McIlroy and 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth got of two winning starts with 5 & 4 and 4 & 2 wins over Jason Dufner and Mikko Ilonen respectively.
McIrloy said he struggled a bit on the new greens, but he did what he had to do.
"I think from tee to green I played really solid. Didn't really hole anything," said McIlroy.
"I made birdie on the first hole and then made 13 pars after that. Jason didn't have his best day but this is match play, you just need to beat the guy in front of you and I was able to do that today."
Meanwhile, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzelt of South Africa claimed wins on the opening day of the of the event.
The 2012 Open Championship winner, Oosthuizen beat the US Ryder Cup player Keegan Bradley 6 & 5, while his good mate and 2001 Masters champion Schwartzel beat to France’s Victor Dubuisson 5 & 4.
Jim Furyk edged George Coetzee 3 & 2 and Zach Johnson is 2 up against Brandon Grace.
First round scores -
Group 1- Rory McIlroy (NIR) bt Jason Dufner 5&4, Billy Horschel bt Brandt Snedeker 5&4
Group 2 - Jordan Spieth bt Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 4&2, Lee Westwood (ENG) bt Matt Every 1 up
Group 3 - John Senden (AUS) bt Henrik Stenson (SWE) 19 holes, Bill Haas bt Brendon Todd 3&2
Group 4 - Bubba Watson bt Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 5&4, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) bt Keegan Bradley 6&5
Group 5 - Jim Furyk bt George Coetzee (RSA) 3&2, Martin Kaymer (GER) bt Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 3&1
Group 6 - Mark Leishman (AUS) bt Justin Rose (ENG) 3&2, Anirban Lahiri (IND) bt Ryan Palmer 4&2
Group 7 - Charley Hoffman bt Jason Day (AUS) 4&3, Zach Johnson bt Branden Grace (RSA) 2 up
Group 8 - Dustin Johnson bt Matt Jones (AUS) 3&1, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) bt Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 5&4
Group 9 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) bt Adam Scott (AUS) 5&4, Paul Casey (ENG) bt Chris Kirk 22 holes
Group 10 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) bt Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 2 up, Jamie Donaldson (WAL) bt Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 1 up
Group 11 - Gary Woodland bt Jimmy Walker 19 holes, Webb Simpson bt Ian Poulter (ENG) 3&2
Group 12 - Marc Warren (SCO) bt JB Holmes 2&1, Brooks Koepka bt Russell Henley 1 up
Group 13 - Rickie Fowler bt Harris English 1 up, Shane Lowry (IRL) bt Graeme McDowell (NIR) 1 up
Group 14 - Ben Martin bt Matt Kuchar 1 up, Hunter Mahan bt Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 7&6
Group 15 - Patrick Reed bt Andy Sullivan (ENG) 2&1, Danny Willett (ENG) bt Ryan Moore 3&2
Group 16 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) bt Alexander Levy (FRA) 5&4, Joost Luiten (NED) bt Kevin Na 19 holes
Morgan Piek / OFM News
