Ryder Cup winner and former champion Ian Poulter suffered his third first-round exit in four years from the WGC-Accenture Match Play championship at Dove Mountain in Arizona last night.
Poulter fell to 2 and 1 defeat to young American talent Rickie Fowler with the latter due to face compatriot Jimmy Walker, who beat South African Branden Grace 5 and 4, in the second round.
Poulter admitted he was beaten fair and square and said: “I was disappointed with my performance today and did not deserve to move on.”
Fowler was delighted with his success and said: “I knew it was going to be a tough match.
“He wasn’t playing great today but I knew he was going to find a way to hang around.
“It feels good to get a win against him and I am excited for tomorrow.”
Finland’s Mikko Ilonen had looked like creating a suprise when he led Bubba Watson by two holes with six to play, but lost the next three before Watson sealed a 2 and 1 win on the 17th.
“After number 11 I knew I had to play hard and somehow I did it,” Watson said.
“It’s very tough, with all the media and attention around me after the win on Sunday to focus enough on golf so hopefully this match scared me enough to focus a little harder.”
Sweden’s Jonas Blixt defeated Keegan Bradley 2 and 1, while South African George Coetzee beat Steve Stricker 3 and 1.
Peter Hanson completed a 4 and 3 win against Dustin Johnson and will face Victor Dubuisson in the last 32 after he beat Kevin Streelman 5 and 4.
Billy Horschel thrashed Welshman Jamie Donaldson 6 and 5, while Bill Haas beat Miguel Angel Jimenez 5 and 4. Thomas Bjorn defeated Francesco Molinari 2 and 1.
Two matches were decided on the 18th, Patrick Reed beating Graeme DeLaet and Jordan Spieth defeating Pablo Larrazabal.