AUSTIN SHOWERS
Rory and Spieth humbled by no-hopers
RORY MCILROY suffered a shock opening defeat by world No.68 Soren Kjeldsen at the Wgcmatch Play despite smashing a drive 410 yards.
And the world No.2, along with Jordan Spieth who also lost, now faces a battle to reach the weekend knockout stages. Dane Kjeldsen had never won a match in this event and missed his first four cuts after joining the PGA Tour this season. And big-hitting Mcilroy seemed set to pound out a win when he won three consecutive holes from the 11th, including a birdie at the 12th when he out-drove Kjeldsen by 80 yards. He then nearly drove the green at the par-4 13th to take the lead. But No.62 seed Kjeldsen drew level at 14 and hit wedges stone dead at 16 and 17 to win a high-quality contest 2&1 at the Austin Country Club in Texas. Mcilroy, who won this event in 2015, needs to beat Gary Woodland and Emiliano Grillo and hope other results go his way to avoid his last event before the Masters ending early. Kjeldsen, 14 years old older than Mcilroy at 41, said: “Obviously the odds were against me but I played great. I just concentrated on my own game. “With my ranking, against everyone I play this week I am going to be the underdog but that is nice.” Texan Spieth was already three holes down to No.54 seed Hideto Tanihara of Japan before he pulled his approach to the 16th green against a hospitality tent on his way to losing 4&2. England’s Paul Casey, losing finalist in 2009 and 2010, beat Joost Luiten 2&1. South Africa’s Branden Grace claimed the first win by beating Andy Sullivan 4&2, with former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel thrashing Ben An 6&5. Jason Day conceded his match against Pat Perez after only six holes – and then broke down in tears as he revealed his mother Dening is undergoing surgery for lung cancer tomorrow. The world No.3 and defending champion said: “My mum has 12 months to live. “She is the reason I am playing golf today. Family comes first.”