Surprise defeat in opening group match leaves McIlroy facing uphill struggle

WORLD No.2 Rory McIlroy faces an uphill battle to regain the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play title after losing to Soren Kjeldsen in their opening group match in Austin.

McIlroy looked to be on course for victory when he overturned a two-hole deficit with three birdies in a row from the 11th, only for Kjeldsen to birdie the next four holes to complete a superb 2&1 success.

And the bad news for pre-tournament favourite McIlroy was that only one player who lost their first game 12 months ago – current world No.1 Dustin Johnson – went on to reach the last 16.

In a high-quality contest, four of the first five holes changed hands due to birdies before Kjeldsen edged ahead at the turn thanks to McIlroy’s bogey on the ninth. Another birdie on the 10th took the Dane two up, but McIlroy got back on level terms with birdies on the 11th and 12th, the latter aided by a drive measured at 410 yards – albeit with the assistance of the wind, slope and a cart path.

McIlroy almost drove the green on the short par-four 13th to set up another birdie and move in front, but Kjeldsen birdied the 14th to get back to all square and the European pair halved the next with birdies as well.

Kjeldsen then closed out the win with brilliant approaches to the 16th and 17th to leave McIlroy needing two wins – and help from elsewhere – to avoid a shock early exit.

In the other match in McIlroy’s group, American Gary Woodland defeated Emiliano Grillo 3&2.

Branden Grace had claimed the first win on day one by beating England’s Andy Sullivan 4&2, with Charl Schwartzel thrashing Ben An 6&5.