Tyrrell Hatton banished memories of last season's putting nightmare with a 3 and 2 victory against Alexander Levy in the all-European Tour clash at the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play.
Hatton was in a three-way play-off with American Charles Howell III and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello for a place in the round of 16 when he missed a winning birdie putt before accidentally nudging his ball on the green and holing for a par.
As a result, he called a two-shot penalty on himself, despite local rules stating he did not need to if he replaced the ball, to confirm an early exit but he eradicated those demons with consistent golf on his return to Austin Country Club.
Elsewhere, Alex Noren led one up against Kevin Na and Charl Schwartzel was all-square with three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth in their respective Group 13 and 4 matches.
Tony Finau held a two up lead over Belgium's Thomas Pieters through 11 holes in their Group 13 match, while Li Haotong trailed by one after ten holes to Patrick Reed in Group 4.
Hatton and Levy were team-mates during Team Europe's victory in the EurAsia Cup in January but they went head-to-head in their opening round-robin match in Group 12, with the Englishman coming out on top.
A par was enough for Hatton to take the first hole after Levy took a drop when his approach shot found deep rough.
Levy was inches from levelling at the third but his 26-foot birdie putt pulled up just short, with Hatton holding his nerve to hole out for a par and he made the most of his lucky break to move two up at the fourth.
The duo made safe approaches to the par-three hole before the World Number 16 got his first putt to within five feet of the hole, which proved to be enough once again as the Frenchman made a poor three-putt.
Levy found more trouble in the rough at the next to concede and hand Hatton a three up lead.
Levy got on the board with a birdie at the eighth hole following an excellent 16-foot putt to reduce the deficit, but Hatton moved three ahead when he dialled in his tee shot to six feet at the 11th before saving par at the next, despite finding a fairway bunker to keep his lead intact.
The Englishman was inches from holing out a 55-foot putt for a gain at the 14th, which would have seen him move four up with four to play, and looked set to secure victory when he got onto the green in two at the next, but a stunning approach from Levy extended the match to the 16th hole.
Hatton struggled as he found the rough with his first and second shot, with Levy just short of the green after his second stroke, however a nice recovery shot helped secure an unlikely birdie for the three-time European Tour winner to wrap up the first available point of the tournament.
More to follow.
