You probably have already heard, but Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both were knocked out of the first round. Evidently, this is only the second time in the 15-year history of this tournament that No. 1 and No. 2 didn’t last more than a day.
Tiger Woods was definitely on his A-game but his old buddy Charles Howell III beat him at his own game. Howell hit a wedge that stopped inches from the cup on the 15th hole, and a 25-foot birdie on the 16th that carried him to a 2-and-1 victory. Howell entered this week’s contest seeded 63rd, took out the overall No. 2 due to his pinpoint precision with his irons, clutch putting, and a mental toughness.
Rory McIlroy’s fate was in the hands of Irishman Shane Lowry who chipped in twice and drilled a fairway wood to seize control, and then knocking out McIlroy with a bunker shot to save par on the final hole. When being interviewed after his victory, Lowry had this to say. “Deep down, I knew I could beat him… There’s a reason I’m here, and this is match play… It’s definitely a day I’m going to remember.”