Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Win keeps Mcilroy in the Match
RORY MCILROY recovered from his opening day thrashing at the hands of
Ian Poulter with a 4&3 victory over American
Lanto Griffin at the WGC-DELL Technologies Match Play yesterday.
But the English Ryder
Cup legend is still favourite to progress after he maintained his unbeaten record with a one hole win over Australian Cameron Smith.
Mcilroy has to hope that Poulter comes unstuck against Griffin today in the final group games, while recording a wide margin success over Smith
“It was big,” Mcilroy said. “Obviously winning the match keeps me in the tournament but I didn’t play that badly on Wednesday. I hit a couple of destructive shots but Poults played very well and deserved to win.
”The scoreline didn’t match up with how I felt I played and same thing today, Lanto didn’t play his best stuff and just happy to be in with a hope.
”It’s a very difficult game and I feel it’s testing me more than it has in the last few years and I feel the only way to get through it is put your head down and work on the right things. I feel like I’m on the right path.”
After a day one defeat against Ryan Palmer, Shane Lowry looked to be heading for an early exit, as he trailed Spaniard Jon Rahm by three holes with five to play.
Tommy Fleetwood will go head to head with big-hitting Bryson Dechambeau today with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Dechambeau, 27, said: “I am a little more aggressive in matchplay. I like being aggressive. It can get you in good positions and sometimes it can hurt you.”