Poulter feels flattered as McIlroy put to the sword

Ian Poulter showed why he is still one of the most feared match play operators in the world as he defeated Rory McIlroy 6&5 on day one of the 2021 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

From the moment the draw was made on Monday, this was one of the most anticipated matches on the schedule at Austin Country Club, with two European Ryder Cup veterans and former winners of this event going head to head in Group 11.

The duo got the action under way in the very first match of the week and Poulter moved three up after five holes before McIlroy cut the gap to one at the eighth.

The Englishman's response was emphatic, winning five in a row to join Cameron Smith - who beat Lanto Griffin one up - at the top of the group.

"I played well and obviously the scoreline's pretty flattering to be honest with you," he said. "But I kept Rory under pressure and I made it difficult for him. 

"He hit a couple of loose shots but putting the ball in pretty tight and taking control of a match, I had to do that against Rory.

"I love the format. It's no secret to know that when I go out in match play it really keeps me turned on pretty quickly as soon as you tee off. 

"It's good to get that kind of feeling going, it's not often you tee off on a first round and... the heart's fluttering already and you've got good adrenaline and you've got good excitement to go out and play."

An exceptional approach to six feet from Poulter saw him win the first and McIlroy three putted the fourth and pulled his drive into a swimming pool on the fifth.

An impressive chip from the trees helped McIlroy win the sixth and he put an approach to inside six feet on the eighth to cut the gap to one but that was as good as it got for the Northern Irishman.

Poulter holed from inside ten feet at the ninth, around 15 at the tenth and 11th and hit a stunner into the 12th to set up an eagle from seven feet.

That put him five up and when McIlroy found the water with his second at the 13th, it was all over.

I love the format. It's no secret to know that when I go out in match play it really keeps me turned on pretty quickly as soon as you tee off

There was another clash of Ryder Cup greats as Sergio Garcia made six birdies to beat Lee Westwood 4&3 in Group Eight.

Westwood made just one bogey in 15 holes but could not keep pace with his eight time Ryder Cup team-mate.

Garcia put approaches inside ten feet at the first and third and took advantage of the par five sixth to move three up.

The Spaniard made a mess of the eighth and bogeyed the tenth but he sandwiched those with a birdie at the ninth and made a brilliant par after finding rocks off the tee at the 11th.

A birdie at the 13th after driving the green tightened Garcia's grip and he was dormie four when Westwood made his only bogey of the day on the next.

"It was nice, tough match," said Garcia. "Obviously Westy is always going to be difficult. He's been playing really well, too. 

"Got off to a great start, made some good birdies, got a couple of nice breaks but then he kept fighting hard and he kept getting a little bit closer.

"I was very, very clutch with the putts that I needed to make today and kind of kept the pressure on him the whole round and then, obviously, hit a great drive on 13 and then four really good shots on the next two holes to win it."

Group Eight is an all European affair and Matt Wallace birdied the last to halve his match with fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton.

The Race to Dubai leader went one up as Wallace double bogeyed the sixth but it was honours even after a birdie on the par five 12th from the 30-year-old.

A 35 footer on the 15th put Hatton back ahead but Wallace played a beauty to four feet on the 18th and the point was shared.