Fleetwood cruises to win after a superb ace
TOMMY FLEETWOOD and Dylan Frittelli were the first golfers to reach the par-three fourth at Austin Country Club yesterday since Sergio Garcia ended his epic play-off against Lee Westwood the previous evening with a spectacular hole in one.
The hour was early, just a handful of people were present and it appeared for all the world like a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ in the initial stages of their last 16 encounter in the WGCMatch Play Championship.
Fleetwood rather changed that. After Frittelli had played, the 30year-old emulated Garcia’s perfect stroke in every regard, his ball pitching just past the flag and spinning back into the hole.
The odds on any ace are long enough but what must they be for two holes in one in the space of three tee shots?
The reaction was pure Fleetwood. He ran all the way to the green, screaming with delight at the top of his lungs. He didn’t, of course. There was a hint of a smile but only a hint. He really is the golfer who treats Kipling’s twin imposters the same.
‘It was a great shot,’ he grudgingly conceded, but only following persistent questioning from the man from the Golf Channel.
Fleetwood went on to play plenty more good shots in a comprehensive dusting of the South African, and went on to a quarter-final match after lunch against American Billy Horschel.
The other Englishman to make it through the group stages had one of those mornings where there’s really not much you can do but admire the play of your opponent. Scottie Scheffler did to Ian Poulter what the Englishman has done to so many over the years, firing seven birdies in 14 holes to win 5&4.
The 11th was a typical example, as Poulter rolled in a birdie putt from fully 40 feet, only for the impressive Scheffler to chip in from about half that length.
Scheffler moved on to a match against Jon Rahm, who defeated South Arican Erik van Rooyen.
Scot Robert MacIntyre saw his bright debut effort come to an end yesterday. MacIntyre, who came through a group that included Masters champion Dustin Johnson, faced a barrage of brilliance from Frenchman Victor Perez.
Perez, who will surely make his Ryder Cup debut in September, was an impressive six under par when the match ended at the 14th. Most of the damage was done early, with Perez four under after five holes and three up.
The Frenchman was unrelenting and eased to a 5&4 success.
However, MacIntyre can take solace in the fact that he has qualified for next month’s Masters after securing a place in the world’s top 50 when the world rankings update tomorrow.
He will join 1988 Masters champion Sandy Lyle and Shriners Hospitals for Childern Open winner Martin Laird as one of the three Scots to tee it up at Augusta National in April.
The aforementioned Garcia, playing his 50th match in this event – the first player to reach that milestone – rendered it memorable by despatching Canadian Mackenzie Hughes 2&1 to set up a contest against Perez.
Arguably, the best golf of all came in the battle of the American lefthanders.
Bubba Watson was four up after five but still lost to the gritty Brian Harman, who put together a stunning run of eight birdies in a row. His 2&1 win earned him a match against Matt Kuchar, who defeated local favourite Jordan Spieth at the 18th.