DeChambeau shares spoils with Bland | Poulter's Masters hopes at risk

Bryson DeChambeau marked his return to action by halving his opening group match against Richard Bland at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

DeChambeau, making his first appearance since February's Saudi International due to wrist and hip injuries, struggled for consistency in a scrappy contest against the 49-year-old debutant at Austin Country Club.

The American claimed a share of the spoils on the opening hole despite finding a first aid tent with a wayward drive, as Bland three-putted from 20 feet, with both also bogeying the third before the former US Open champion edged ahead with a close-range birdie at the par-three fourth.

Bland levelled with a birdie at the next but immediately fell back behind when DeChambeau fired his approach at the par-five sixth to inside eight feet and two-putted for birdie, with Bland then holing a 25-footer to match his playing partner's par at the ninth to remain one behind at the turn.

A par was enough for Bland to win the 10th hole and both players holed from distance to grab a share of the spoils at the 14th, with the Englishman missing a birdie chance from inside six feet at the next to leave the contest level going to the par-four last.

Bland missed the green with his approach but two-putted from the fringe for par, as DeChambeau two-putted from 15 feet to make a four of his own and see the match end all-square.

"Bryson was probably a bit rusty and it was never going to be pretty golf," Bland told Sky Sports. "So I think a half was probably right."

The other match in group nine saw Lee Westwood beaten 3&2 by Talor Gooch, as Matt Fitzpatrick came through an all-English clash with Tommy Fleetwood in group five and Tyrrell Hatton saw off Christiaan Bezuidenhout to move top of