Scheffler, Mcilroy among winners as Match Play opens
AUSTIN, Texas — Defending champion and top seed Scottie Scheffler missed two putts inside 5 feet over the last five holes before making a 12-footer for birdie on the 18th to beat Davis Riley in a rematch of their U.S. Junior Amateur title match 10 years ago as the final Dell Technologies Match Play began Wednesday.
Jon Rahm, the No. 2 seed, was the only player from the top four seeds to lose. Rickie Fowler took him down on the 17th hole, the first time Rahm has lost in the opening round.
Matt Kuchar, at 44 the oldest player in the field, outlasted Viktor Hovland and won his 35th match, one short of the career tournament record held by Tiger Woods. Rory Mcilroy had a shorter shaft in his driver and a new putter, and both worked just fine in his 3-and-1 victory over Scott Stallings.
A long day offered plenty of great shots, from J.J. Spaun holing out from the 13th fairway during his win over U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick to Jordan Spieth ending his match by chipping in for birdie from a squirrelly lie to beat Mackenzie Hughes, 4 and 3, to Adam Scott’s 25-footer for birdie on the 18th for his only lead of the day and a 1-up win over Seamus Power. Kuchar won the opening three holes and then had to hang on against Hovland, the No. 8 seed who made too many mistakes to catch up.
“I’ve been out here a while,” said Kuchar, whose Match Play record improved to 3511-4. “Any time you’re in a conversation with Tiger Woods, this is a very cool thing.”
Mcilroy knows this week is about more than match play.
“Obviously this part of the season you’ve got one eye on what you’re doing now and one eye on Augusta.”