Woods still alive in Match Play
The magical escape by Tiger Woods didn’t keep him from losing Thursday in the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas.
He just didn’t lose hope of playing on the weekend.
The same couldn’t be said for defending champion Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and a host of others who have to return Friday morning to Austin Country Club with no chance of advancing out of their group.
The Match Play began to take shape, more because of 20 players from the 64-man field mathematically eliminated than who can still reach the weekend.
Jordan Spieth is still alive after building a 6-up lead through 12 holes on Kevin Na, but not winning until four holes later when Na missed a 4-foot birdie putt. Jim Furyk and Henrik Stenson emerged with 2-0 records from the group of major champions. They play Friday after knocking out Mickelson and Jason Day.
“It’s going to be a tough one again,” Stenson said. “Jim, I don’t think he’s given away an easy bogey since 1994 or something.”
Brandt Snedeker took advantage of too many mistakes by Woods off the tee and on the greens for a 2-and-1 victory, a big one for Snedeker because of his opponent’s name and reputation. But it was just one win.
“I knew I was playing good, so I was excited about the opportunity,” Snedeker said. “I turned into Tiger’s biggest fan tomorrow going forward, because I need him to go out there and beat Patrick [Cantlay] tomorrow.”
Snedeker first has to beat Aaron Wise, who was eliminated when Cantlay beat him, and he would only advance if Woods beats Cantlay. Otherwise, Snedeker and Cantlay will return to the first tee for a sudden-death playoff.
Several groups are like that.
“See you on the first tee tomorrow,” Horschel said with a smile and a wink to Spieth.
Elsewhere: Joel Dahmen birdied five of his last six holes Thursday for a 6-under-par 66 and a share of the first-round lead in the PGA Tour’s Corales Puntacana (Dominican Republic) Resort & Club Championship. Dahmen rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 third with four straight birdies and closed with another birdie on the par-3 ninth. Winless on the PGA Tour, the 31-year-old former University of Washington player was tied with Matt Jones and Paul Dunne.… Julian Suri and Stephen Gallacher shared the lead at the Indian Open after opening rounds of 5-under-par 67. Gallacher, who finished among the top 10 in the tournament last year, eagled his last hole with a putt from off the green. Suri joined Gallacher at the top when his bunker shot on the 18th hole gave him a birdie. contract. …The Buffalo Bills continue stockpiling free agents by signing running back and return specialist Senorise Perry to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old Perry has three seasons of NFL experience, including the past two with the Miami Dolphins.
Soccer: Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, citing family reasons. Higuain, 31, scored 31 goals in 75 international appearances for Argentina.