McIlroy on cusp of going out early

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 No 7 found himself five down after just 10 holes at Austin Country Club.

Although he birdied five holes in a row 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 later today 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 Bernd Wiesberger.

The world No 1 was one up after five but ran up a quadruplebogey nine on the sixth and a double bogey on the 11th on his way to a surprise defeat.

World No 2 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 No 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 completed just his second victory in seven matches in the event.

Thomas admitted the thought of a bad defeat had crossed his mind.