Jason Day was 3-up with four holes to play, an ideal start to the World Golf Championship Dell Match Play that included five birdies and hardly any stress.
However, then he felt his back tighten on a tee shot at the 15th hole.
It stung so badly on his next tee shot that Day grabbed his back and winced. He stepped gingerly into a bunker. When his short-par was conceded, he took a knee.
Photo: AP
Exactly what happened was not entirely clear, because Day immediately sought treatment and left without speaking to reporters.
With a long week ahead of him at Austin Country Club, and the Masters just two weeks away, this victory surely felt hollow.
Without much drama on the golf course because of tough greens and Texas wind, Day supplied it with the latest in a long list of injuries.
Jordan Spieth, a crowd favorite who helped Texas to a national title in 2012, produced what the crowd came to see. The No. 1 player built an early lead and made a few pivotal putts to stay in control as he beat Jamie Donaldson of Wales 3 and 2.
Rory McIlroy escaped with a victory. He never led until winning on the 18th hole, where Thorbjorn Olesen shanked a chip. Martin Kaymer rode the wind and drove the green on the 376-yard 18th hole to claim a 1-up victory over Shane Lowry. Matt Kuchar had the shortest day, dispatching Anirban Lahiri in 13 holes.
Day overcame an early deficit and had the match in hand when he first felt pain. The severity of the injury was unclear. His agent sent a statement that Day had tweaked his back, had some work done on it, was pleased with winning and was preparing to take part in the next day’s play.
Day told the Australian Associated Press before he went to get treatment: “It’s really hard to play with searing pain in both sides of your lower back. Just my back has seized up and I need to get inside right away for treatment and see what’s wrong.”
There was no need to worry about Spieth. He had the largest crowd and delivered a solid performance, going 4-up through seven holes.
“I felt like everybody was on our side today,” Spieth said. “I almost felt like a home Ryder Cup match. And Jamie, I’m not sure what he would say about it... Everyone was very respectful, but every single step I took, somebody was yelling at you: ‘Hook ‘em Horns’ or ‘Go Jordan, we’re rooting for you.’ Which is really, really cool.”
Rickie Fowler, the No. 5 seed, rallied from 3-down on the back nine to square his match on the 15th hole, only for Jason Dufner to win the next two holes with birdies to beat him on the 17th hole. He was the highest-ranked played to lose.
Dustin Johnson (No. 8) lost to Robert Streb, while Hideki Matsuyama (No. 12) lost to Rafa Cabrera-Bello. Adam Scott (No. 6) had to settle for a halve with Thomas Pieters of Belgium. Players and caddies wore black ribbons in their caps to honor the those killed in Tuesday’s Brussels attacks.
In the round-robin format, all of the players still have a chance to advance from their groups and reach the knockout stage. A year ago, only three players who lost in the first round reached the round of 16. It might be easier this year because there are halves during group play.
Bubba Watson (No. 4) was among six players whose matches ended in a draw.
Phil Mickelson, playing the World Golf Championship for the first time in five years, ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine to build a big lead and Matthew Fitzpatrick could not catch up, the match ending on the 14th hole.
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