Golf - Volvo World Matchplay:Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy both got their Volvo World Matchplay campaigns off to winning starts at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain to give themselves a strong platform from which to advance to the knockout stages.
The opening day was more about quality over quantity with only eight matches played in this new round-robin format where the 24 players are split into eight pools of three players. The top two in each pool will advance to the last 16.
McIlroy was involved in arguably the highest quality match of the day against Retief Goosen. Littered with birdies the match went the distance before the Holywood golfer chipped in from the edge of the 18th green for birdie to close out the narrow win.
McIlroy took the early lead with a birdie two at the second but the South African responded with three birdies in four holes from the fourth to go two-up before McIlroy levelled by the time they reached the turn.
The 22-year-old stole a march at a crucial time with birdies at 15 and 16 to be one-up and remained so by the time they stood on the 18th tee.
McIlroy's decision to go for the par five 18th was questionable and when he found the bunker right he was in danger of handing his opponent the chance of a halved match.
After splashing out from a difficult position he managed to reach the edge of the green. From there a deft pitch tracked to the hole and dropped to ensure the win. McIlroy made seven birdies against Goosen's six.
“It was a very tough match against, Retief didn't give me much. I felt I played pretty well and it was a nice way to finish,” said McIlroy after his round and on his first appearance in Europe since the US Masters last month.
“I left myself a very tricky third shot in the bunker, wasn't the greatest of lies either and was pretty lucky it stayed up on the top of the hill,” he added of the 18th. “Somehow I managed to chip it in, nice way to finish and nice feeling going into tomorrow with a win under the belt.
“You have to play aggressively (in matchplay), trying to make things happen. Made a great putt on 15 for birdie. Retief then hit it in close at 16 then I followed him in for birdie. This course gives you plenty of (birdie) chances and the way the greens are you're going to hole putts.
“I feel my swing is getting there again," added McIlroy after more work with his coach Michael Bannon this week. "It has become very comfortable on the golf course. I had been struggling to hold the ball up in a right to left wind, wasn't getting enough cut spin on the ball.
"I hit a lot of shots out there today that pleased me, definitely a good sign going into the next few weeks."
In McDowell’s case he enjoyed a comfortable 3 and 1 win over British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. It was the ideal response for McDowell after his final round collapse at Sawgrass in Florida last weekend.
The US Open champion fired out of the blocks, lost his way for a bit mid-round before closing strongly, particularly with the winning birdie at 17.
“Obviously there a lot of permutations with this week’s format but it’s nice to win against the British Open champion and get a first win under the belt.
“I felt like I positioned the ball well off the tee, hit a lot of good shots and putted okay. It was a nice little start.”
McDowell was also keen to put the final round at Sawgrass behind him and set about making sure the fatigue he felt doesn’t reoccur.
“I felt better out there today, did a little bit of work in the gym this week, trying to strengthen my legs up because I was disappointed the way I felt physically last Sunday," added McDowell.
"Really I’m trying to make sure that doesn't happen again. This golf course is physically demanding, it’s a tough walk and there will be a lot of golf to play this week if you make it into the knockout stages. Got to maintain the energy levels."
Last week’s Players title may have got away from the Portrush pro but he’s keen to get back into the mix and a win this week would do the trick.
"Always want to win an event like this; there’s a great history and tradition with this event,” he added. “Back in the days when it was played at Wentworth there were some great champions. Don't know why but I always picture Seve trying to bend one round the corner at the 17th.
“I would love to win it and join a great list of champions.”
Elsewhere there were big 6 and 5 wins for world number one Lee Westwood and home favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez; they recorded respective wins over Anders Hansen and Charl Schwartzel.
ANother home favourite Alvaro Quiros defeated former champion Paul Casey (3 and 1), Martin Kaymer overcame YE Yang (2 and 1) and Luke Donald was a comfortable winner over Ryan Moore (4 and 3). The only halved matched came in the first game out between Francesco Molinari and Ian Poulter.
In the pool stages two points are awarded for a win and one for a halved match and if any group is tied sudden death holes will decide who advances to the last 16.
Today's Pool Stage Results (Thursday)
(Irish in bold)
(H) Francesco Molinari halved with Ian Poulter
(G) Charl Schwartzel lost to Miguel Angel Jimenez 6 and 5
(F) Paul Casey lost to Alvaro Quiros 3 and 1
(E)
Rory McIlroydefeated Retief Goosen 1 hole
(D)
Graeme McDowelldefeated Louis Oosthuizen 3 and 1
(C) Martin Kaymer defeated YE Yang 2 and 1
(B) Luke Donald defeated Ryan Moore 4 and 3
(A) Lee Westwood defeated Anders Hansen 6 and 5
Pool Stage - Morning Session (Friday)
Ian Poulter v Paul Lawrie
Miguel Angel Jiménez v Johan Edfors
Alvaro Quiros v Søren Kjeldsen
Retief Goosen v Nicolas Colsaerts
Louis Oosthuizen v Jhonattan Vegas
YE Yang v Seung-yul Noh
Ryan Moore v Ross Fisher
Anders Hansen v Aaron Baddeley
Pool Stage - Afternoon Session (Friday)
Francesco Molinari v Paul Lawrie
Charl Schwartzel v Johan Edfors
Paul Casey v Søren Kjeldsen
Rory McIlroyv Nicolas Colsaerts
Graeme McDowellv Jhonattan Vegas
Martin Kaymer v Seung-yul Noh
Luke Donald v Ross Fisher
Lee Westwood v Aaron Baddeley
