WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Rory McIlroy loses to Peter Uihlein
Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy faces an uphill task to avoid an early exit from the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after losing to Peter Uihlein in his opening group game.
McIlroy came into the event, which he won in 2015, on the back of a thrilling victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational after a closing round of 64.
But the world number seven found himself five down after just 10 holes at Austin Country Club and although he birdied five holes in succession on the back nine to stay alive, Uihlein breathed a sigh of relief after a par on the 17th sealed a 2&1 victory.
McIlroy could still advance to the last 16 with wins over Jhonattan Vegas on Thursday and Brian Harman on Friday, although that would not be enough if Uihlein goes on to win all three group matches.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson, who never trailed in any of his seven matches last year, is in the same boat after losing 3&1 to Austria's Bernd Wiesberger.
The world number one was one up after five, but ran up a quadruple-bogey nine on the sixth and a double bogey on the 11th on his way to a surprise defeat.
World number two Justin Thomas was earlier made to work hard for victory against Luke List, despite his opponent giving himself a self-inflicted handicap.
List was forced to putt with his sand wedge after bending his putter out of shape in frustration during the early stages of the Group Two contest.
But the world number 67, who lost out to Thomas in a play-off for the Honda Classic last month, battled back from three down with four to play to take the tie all the way to the 18th before Thomas finally completed just his second victory in seven matches in the event.
Thomas, who can become world number one with a victory this week, admitted the thought of an embarrassing defeat had crossed his mind, telling PGA Tour.com: "I was thinking about it, how bad that would hurt if I couldn't get it done. I don't know what happened (with List's putter) but I knew that it would hopefully make it easier on me. But it didn't."
List explained what had happened, adding: "I was walking off the sixth green and I was a little unhappy about the way I was feeling, a little under the weather.
"I thought it was a brush area and I just kind of swiped my putter and it turned out to be a wall. Stupid on my part."
The other match in Group 2 saw Italy's Francesco Molinari beat Patton Kizzire 3&1, while England's Tyrrell Hatton beat France's Alexander Levy 3&2 in Group 12.
Reverting to the putter he used to spark the 'Miracle at Medinah' in the 2012 Ryder Cup paid dividends for Ian Poulter, who beat European number one Tommy Fleetwood 3&2 in an all-English clash in Group 9.
"My stats over the last number of months have been better than I've seen before, tee to green, so if I can start to hole the putts I've holed with that putter I'm going to do some good things," Poulter told Sky Sports.
"I'm in need of a really good week this week to get into Augusta [for the Masters] so it's about getting the feeling back with something I've had success with. I can't blame the putter, I hate doing that. If I grab hold of a putter that I know has worked, then it's on me."
Phil Mickelson was another surprise loser on day one as Charles Howell won their match 3&2, but Valspar Championship winner Paul Casey recovered from two down with seven to play to beat Russell Henley on the 18th.
Casey, who never led until winning the final hole, told Sky Sports: "I feel a little guilty. I should be wearing a mask but I'm very happy with it and can build on it during the week."
Masters champion Sergio Garcia, whose wife gave birth to their first child last week, birdied the 18th to beat India's Shubhankar Sharma by one hole.
Results
GROUP 1
Bernd Wiesberger (52) def. Dustin Johnson (1), 3 and 1
Kevin Kisner (32) halves Adam Hadwin (38)
GROUP 2
Justin Thomas (2) def. Luke List (60), 2 up
Francesco Molinari (21) def. Patton Kizzire (48), 3 and 1
GROUP 3
Jon Rahm (3) halves Keegan Bradley (63)
Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28) def. Chez Reavie (43), 3 and 2
GROUP 4
Jordan Spieth (4) def. Charl Schwartzel (49), 2 and 1
Patrick Reed (19) def. Haotong Li (34), 3 and 2
GROUP 5
Hideki Matsuyama (5) def. Yusaku Miyazato (53), 2 and 1
Cameron Smith (46) def. Patrick Cantlay (30), 2 up
GROUP 6
Peter Uihlein (57) def. Rory McIlroy (6), 2 and 1
Brian Harman (18) halves Jhonattan Vegas (44)
GROUP 7
Sergio Garcia (7) def. Shubhankar Sharma (62), 1 up
Xander Schauffele (20) def. Dylan Frittelli (41), 1 up
GROUP 8
Jason Day (8) def. James Hahn (56), 4 and 2
Louis Oosthuizen (25) def. Jason Dufner (42), 1 up
GROUP 9
Ian Poulter (58) def. Tommy Fleetwood (9), 3 and 2
Kevin Chappell (33) def. Daniel Berger (26), 3 and 2
GROUP 10
Paul Casey (10) def. Russell Henley (51), 1 up
Kyle Stanley (45) def. Matthew Fitzpatrick (31), 1 up
GROUP 11
Julian Suri (64) def. Marc Leishman (11), 3 and 2
Bubba Watson (35) def. Branden Grace (23), 5 and 3
GROUP 12
Tyrrell Hatton (12) def. Alexander Levy (55), 3 and 2
Brendan Steele (36) def. Charley Hoffman (22), 1 up
GROUP 13
Alex Noren (13) def. Kevin Na (61), 4 and 2
Tony Finau (29) def. Thomas Pieters (39), 2 and 1
GROUP 14
Charles Howell III (59) def. Phil Mickelson (14), 3 and 2
Rafa Cabrera Bello (17) def. Satoshi Kodaira (40), 2 and 1
GROUP 15
Pat Perez (15) halves Si Woo Kim (50)
Gary Woodland (24) halves Webb Simpson (37)
GROUP 16
Matt Kuchar (16) halves Zach Johnson (54)
Yuta Ikeda (47) def. Ross Fisher (27)