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McGowan knocks out top gun Stricker
Source: Agencies |
February 19, 2010, Friday
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TOP seed Steve Stricker was a surprise loser in the first round of the US$8.5 million Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday when Britain's Ross McGowan made a 25-foot par putt on the 19th hole.
It is only the second time the top seed has been eliminated on the first day of the World Golf Championships event, with Tiger Woods also losing in 2002.
Stricker took the one-up defeat at Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona, in his stride, reminding reporters that there was no such thing as a massive upset in an 18-hole sprint.
"Like I said yesterday, it's kind of scary because you don't know who you're going to run into," he said. "You don't know how the guy is going to play and it forces your hand at times.
"We both played really well and didn't give each other many holes out there. He hit some great shots coming in and I was having a hard time getting the ball close.
"He started putting really good coming in and obviously made a great putt to end the match."
McGowan, ranked 64, next takes on exciting 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, the youngest player in the field.
Ishikawa won last year's Japan Tour money title, and he showed his class with a clutch finish to beat Australian Michael Sim two-up.
"I was very nervous but the first-hole birdie gave me a good experience and confidence," said Ishikawa, who won the final three holes, the final two with birdies.
Eighth seeded Padraig Harrington of Ireland was also beaten on Wednesday, going down 3&1 to India's Jeev Milka Singh.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, breezed through his first match with a 7&5 win over Alexander Noren.
It is only the second time the top seed has been eliminated on the first day of the World Golf Championships event, with Tiger Woods also losing in 2002.
Stricker took the one-up defeat at Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona, in his stride, reminding reporters that there was no such thing as a massive upset in an 18-hole sprint.
"Like I said yesterday, it's kind of scary because you don't know who you're going to run into," he said. "You don't know how the guy is going to play and it forces your hand at times.
"We both played really well and didn't give each other many holes out there. He hit some great shots coming in and I was having a hard time getting the ball close.
"He started putting really good coming in and obviously made a great putt to end the match."
McGowan, ranked 64, next takes on exciting 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, the youngest player in the field.
Ishikawa won last year's Japan Tour money title, and he showed his class with a clutch finish to beat Australian Michael Sim two-up.
"I was very nervous but the first-hole birdie gave me a good experience and confidence," said Ishikawa, who won the final three holes, the final two with birdies.
Eighth seeded Padraig Harrington of Ireland was also beaten on Wednesday, going down 3&1 to India's Jeev Milka Singh.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, breezed through his first match with a 7&5 win over Alexander Noren.
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