Charl Schwartzel was unable to stir up any sort of performance that would trouble Jordan Spieth in round one of the Dell Match Play at Austin Country Club, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Schwartzel entered Group 4 as the underdog with the highest world ranking and was quickly behind after a bogey at the second sent Spieth into the lead.
The young American then missed a good chance at the fifth to extend his lead to two when he failed to convert from five feet. Schwartzel took advantage of another mistake when Spieth missed his par putt from just seven feet.
Both played the next five holes in level par to arrive at the 12th tee all square. That quickly changed when Spieth, who will chase his career grand slam at the PGA Championship later in the year, two-putted for par following his South African foe’s mistake when he found the water with his second.
That was all the impetus Spieth needed as he dialed his iron on the next to under 3 feet and another win. Two up became three at the next when the 2017 Open champion hit his approach to under a foot from 156 yards.
Schwartzel extended the match with a seven foot par putt. The match would go to the 17th as Spieth failed to save par after finding the rough with his second at the par 5 16th.
The American would not make another error as he matched Schwartzel’s tee shot on the short par 3 and then some. The match was over as Schwartzel missed his 11 foot attempt to hand Spieth, who had half that for a birdie try of his own, two putts for the 2&1 win.
Birdie count:
2 – Spieth
1 – Schwartzel
*In the second Group 4 match, Patrick Reed defeated Haotong Li 3&2
Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
