McIlroy bows out in Texas despite second round walkover

Rory McIlroy’s fate was sealed yesterday despite being gifted victory in his second match in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin, Texas.

McIlroy, who lost his opening contest in group two to Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, was due to face American Gary Woodland, the man he beat in the 2015 final.

However, Woodland withdrew from the £7.8million event at Austin Country Club due to a “personal family matter”, leaving Kjeldsen, who would have played Woodland today, needing only to halve his match with Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo to advance to the last 16.

Grillo, who had lost to Woodland on Wednesday, moved into a two-hole lead, but Kjeldsen quickly turned the tables and was four up after 13 holes.

The Argentinian won the 14th to keep his hopes alive but a par at the next was enough to secure a 4 and 3 win and send McIlroy out.

A day after defending champion Jason Day pulled out of the event to spend time with his mother as she undergoes treatment for lung cancer, Italy’s Francesco Molinari also withdrew with a wrist injury after suffering a 5 and 3 defeat to Thongchai Jaidee.

That meant Sweden’s Alex Noren, who was due to play Molinari today, was guaranteed to advance from group eight having beaten Bernd Wiesberger 3 and 2 to claim his second win of the week.

Masters champion Danny Willett was eliminated with a game to spare after being thrashed 6 and 5 by American Bill Haas, while world No 1 Dustin Johnson made it two wins out of two by beating Martin Kaymer 3 and 2.

The hopes of Scotland’s Russell Knox were ended by South Korea’s KT Kim who won 3 and 1 to advance.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson also showed signs of a return to form with his second win, the left-hander beating compatriot Scott Piercy 4 and 3.

Watson, who has not had a top-10 finish since September’s Tour Championship, can book his place in the last 16 by beating Thomas Pieters today, the Belgian Ryder Cup star having lost to Jhonattan Vegas yesterday.