Adam Scott has got his WGC-Match Play campaign off to a flying start with a 2-up victory over England’s Justin Rose on day one of pool matches.
Scott traded the lead with Rose early in the match at Austin Country Club, with each handing over the advantage with sloppy bogeys.
Scott took a one-up lead after 14 holes and then threw the hammer down with a birdie to win the 15th, increasing his lead to two holes. Again, a wayward drive cost him the 16th hole, but a bogey from Rose on the 18th handed Scott a 2-up win.
“The whole match was … a real pillow fight between Justin and I,” Scott said after the round. “We gave each other a lot of holes, certainly nothing for me to brag about.
“We played a lot of golf with each other over the years and we certainly didn’t have our best stuff today. But obviously, I’m happy to squeak out a point and kind of keep my hopes alive for the next couple days.”
Scott’s countryman Marc Leishman didn’t snare a point, though. He suffered a 4-and-3 defeat to previous WGC-Match Play champion Kevin Kisner.
Lucas Herbert won 4-and-3 2 against Tony Finau, while Perth native Min Woo Lee was staring down defeat to defending WGC-Match Play champion Billy Horschel late in their match.
