Golf – World Match Play update:Although Rory McIlroy won both his "Group of Death" matches on day two of the Volvo World Match Play there was nothing he could do as Masters champion Angel Cabrera turned in another imperious performance to deny Simon Dyson and top Group C.
McIlroy’s fate was dented after yesterday’s opening five-hole defeat to Cabrera, and after that matters were always going to be out of the 20-year-old’s hands in the new round-robin format at Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Malaga, Spain.
It was a busy day for McIlroy, who at least laid down a marker with this morning’s two-hole win over Dyson, while the group opened up when Stenson denied Cabrera by the same margin.
It meant McIlroy went into his final group match against Stenson needing to overcome the six hole deficit between him and Cabrera, who took on Dyson in the afternoon.
At one point it looked as though McIlroy might just manage his Houdini act, but in the end, Cabrera was too canny an operator to slip up twice in one day.
McIlroy was never down in his match against Stenson and by the 11th hole he was five-up against the tall Swede. He would eventually go on to win by four holes.
The problem was Cabrera faced little resistance against Dyson and rather than losing by two holes – to cancel the holes won margin between himself and McIlroy – the big-hitting argentine trounced the Englishman by seven holes to top the group with ease.
Cabrera gained four points from his two wins, while McIlroy jumped from last to second with his two wins but the difference in holes won was considerable (Cabrera +10, McIlroy +1).
McIlroy has the consolation of picking up €150,000 for his runner-up finish in the group.
Cabrera will now face Group D winner, Ross Fisher from England in tomorrow’s semi-finals, while the other side of the draw will see Group A winner, Anthony Kim from America, take on Group B winner, Australia’s Robert Allenby.
World Match Play Prize Money (€3,250,000)
1st: €750,000
2nd: €450,000
3rd: €250,000
4th: €200,000
Runner up in group: €150,000
3rd in Group: €130,000
4th in Group: €120,000
