By Mark Lamport-Stokes
MARANA, Arizona Feb 23 (Reuters) – American Hunter
Mahan became the first player to reach the third round of the
WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship with a crushing 53
victory over Yang Yong-eun on Thursday.
In blazing desert sunshine, Mahan birdied six of the first
eight holes to go four up on the South Korean and recovered from
bogeys at the ninth and 10th to seal the win on the 15th green.
“I was playing as well as I could, hitting fairways and
greens, giving myself good looks,” Mahan told reporters after
carding seven birdies and three bogeys.
“If you hit it good around here where these pins are and you
get on the right level, you are going to have some putts, you
are going to be able to make some putts. Today I was able to do
that.”
Soon after, Mahan’s U.S. Ryder Cup team mate Dustin Johnson
wrapped up a 75 demolition of Italy’s Francesco Molinari at
Dove Mountain’s Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
Johnson, who needed 20 holes to scrape past compatriot Jim
Furyk in the opening round, never let up after seizing control
against Molinari with four birdies in the first eight holes.
The match ended at the par-five 13th where the Italian
parred and the big-hitting Johnson was just 10 feet from the
hole in two shots.
American Steve Stricker, champion in 2001 when the event was
held in Australia, won a tight encounter with South African
Louis Oosthuizen one up after sinking a 20-foot birdie putt at
the par-four 18th.
Three-times champion Tiger Woods, seeking his first PGA Tour
victory in over two years, was all square with fellow American
Nick Watney after seven holes.
In other second-round matches, British world number three
Lee Westwood was four up on Swede Robert Karlsson after eight
holes while second-ranked Northern Irishman Rory Mcllroy was one
up on Dane Sanders Hansen after four holes.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Gene Cherry)
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