By Mark Lamport-Stokes
MARANA, Arizona Feb 22 (Reuters) – While three-times
winner Tiger Woods was in early trouble, Yang Yong-eun drew
first blood in Wednesday’s opening round of the WGC-Accenture
Match Play Championship by beating Graeme McDowell 21.
South Korean Yang birdied four of the first seven holes at
Dove Mountain’s Ritz-Carlton Golf Club before sealing victory
with his seventh birdie of the day at the par-four 17th.
“I ran into a man that played extremely well,” Britain’s
Graeme McDowell told reporters. “I felt like I had to follow him
all day long, and I did most of the day, but he didn’t put a
foot wrong.
“I made six birdies today. You just run into the wrong guy
on the wrong day, and you have got your work cut out. I didn’t
take care of business, so I’m disappointed, yeah.”
Soon after Yang’s win, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa came from three
down after 13 holes to beat American Bill Haas one up before
Paul Lawrie edged fellow Briton Justin Rose by the same margin
on a breezy, sun-splashed day in the Arizona desert.
Ishikawa birdied 14, 15 and 17 before wrapping up victory on
the 18th green against an in-form opponent who won the PGA
Tour’s Northern Trust Open on Sunday in a playoff.
“Through the first 13 holes, it was really tough and I
wasn’t playing that well,” Ishikawa said through an interpreter.
“But the last five holes, I was able to compete with the
opponent. This course is suited for me.”
Three-times major winner Woods, seeking his first victory on
the U.S. circuit in over two years, was one down to Spaniard
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano after six holes.
Continued…
