Poulter dominant from start on opening day of WGC Match PlayBritish Masters bids for
golf fans’ return in Covid pilot eventRory McIlroy will require no reminding that a 6&5 trouncing on Wednesday by Ian Poulter at the WGC Match Play arrived just 15 days before his latest tilt at completing a career grand slam. How McIlroy, clearly in the midst of technical struggles, must wish the Masters didn’t arrive in early April. For now, the Northern Irishman’s best hope is the grounds of Augusta National somehow summon the kind of touch that has painfully deserted him in recent weeks.
Poulter, such a specialist in this format during Ryder Cups, was probably the last player McIlroy fancied facing on day one in Austin. The Englishman was dominant from the start, racing into a three-hole lead after five. When McIlroy clawed that advantage back to 1 up on the 8th green, Poulter reeled off five winning holes in a row to claim the match. McIlroy’s wayward play was summed up at the 5th, where his tee shot finished in a neighbouring swimming pool.