Scheffler, McIlroy grab opening victories while Rahm falls at WGC Match Play

23.03.2023 - 07:27 arabnews.com

WASHINGTON: Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and world No.3 Rory McIlroy won while second-ranked Jon Rahm lost to Rickie Fowler in Wednesday’s opening group matches at the WGC Match Play Championship.

US seventh seed Will Zalatoris and Norwegian eighth seed Viktor Hovland were also among five top group seeds to fall on day one at Austin (Texas) Country Club.

Sixteen winners from four-man groups will advance to weekend knockout rounds. Reigning Masters champion Scheffler, who won the Players Championship earlier this month, sank a 13-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to edge US 54th seed Davis Riley 2 and 1. “Fortunate to come away with a win,” Scheffler said. “I’m going to remember that putt on the last hole and take that energy into tomorrow.” Scheffler, who never trailed, holed out from 52 feet for eagle to win the par-4 fifth hole and eagled from 24 feet to take the par-4 13th.

Riley missed a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 16th that would have pulled him level but Scheffler missed a 3.5-foot putt at the par-3 17th to win the match. “I got off to a really good start.

Rory McIlroy Tommy Fleetwood Rory Macilroy Viktor Hovland Pga Tour Jon Rahm Sergio Garcia Will Zalatoris Adam Schenk Louis Oosthuizen Marc Leishman Alex Noren Tom Kim Sweden France Spain Usa Norway Washington Jordan state Texas South Korea county Riley county Davis

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