Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson won their respective matches at the WGC Dell Match Play in Texas to retain perfect records in contrasting fashion, while Jason Day overcame a back injury to join them with a victory on Thursday.
On a day that also saw third-seeded Rory McIlroy win to improve to 2-0-0, world No.1 Spieth oozed confidence with the state of his game at the Austin Country Club.
“Very pleased to get today done with quickly,” top-seeded Spieth told the Golf Channel after dusting off Frenchman Victor Dubuisson 5-and-4.
Spieth, who will defend his title at the Masters in two weeks, moved to 2-0-0 in the 64-man World Golf Championships event.
However, fellow American Mickelson said he had played poorly and been lucky to beat compatriot Daniel Berger in a bizarre finish to their match.
Five-time major champion Mickelson won 1-up when Berger conceded defeat after injuring his wrist when he struck a rock trying to play his second shot at the final hole.
Australian Day also remained perfect when he shrugged off back spasms that hit him after his tee shot at 15 on Wednesday to beat Thai Thongchai Jaidee 5-and-3.
“Yesterday it was definitely sore. It’s a disc and when it gets inflamed, everything just kind of goes into spasm and I can’t really move,” said Day, who won the Bay Hill Invitational on Sunday. Northern Irishman McIlroy beat American Smylie Kaufman 3-and-1 to keep pace.
Every player contests three matches in his group in a round-robin format, with 16 players advancing to the knockout phase that starts today.
Other players with perfect 2-0-0 records are Americans Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson, Bill Haas, Kevin Na and Brooks Koepka, South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, Englishman Andy Sullivan and Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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