Day wins match, tweaks back

AUSTIN, Texas — Jason Day was among the winners in Wednesday’s opening day of the WGC-Dell Match Play, but the Australian world No. 2 left the Austin Country Club course clutching his back heading for treatment. PGA Championship winner Day defeated former US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland 3&2, catching fire with birdies on four of five holes from the fifth, but late in the round the world No. 2’s back tightened up. The world No. 2 declined to stop and chat with reporters but his agent later said Day expected to play his next match Thursday. “Jason tweaked his back (driving) on hole No. 15 and had some work done post-round. He is pleased with the outcome of the match and is getting prepared to play tomorrow,” his agent Bud Martin said in a statement. World No. 1 and local favorite Jordan Spieth, who played college golf at the University of Texas in Austin, led from start to finish against Jamie Donaldson of Wales in a 3&2 win. Third-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland survived a tight match against Thorbjorn Olesen for a 1-up win clinched after the Dane made a mess at the last, including a shanked chip shot from greenside rough. Twice Masters winner Bubba Watson went to the final hole 1-up but settled for a half when fellow-American Patton Kizzire birdied the last. Also halving his opener was Adam Scott, who led 2-up before birdies at 16 and 17 by Belgian Thomas Pieters. World No. 5 Rickie Fowler lost a duel against his friend Jason Dufner, who posted a 2&1 victory, while Englishman Paul Casey, twice a runner-up in the event, lost his match with 46-year-old Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand by the same score. Other favorites to fall included Dustin Johnson, who lost to fellow-American Robert Streb 3&2 and American Jimmy Walker, beaten 2&1 by Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand. Defeat did not eliminate competitors as Wednesday was the first of three days of group play, with the winners of the 16 four-man groups advancing to single-elimination this weekend. Other winners included Spaniard Sergio Garcia over Ryder Cup teammate Lee Westwood of England, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa against New Zealand’s Danny Lee, and Phil Mickelson, who thumped 21-year-old Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick 5&4. — Reuters