India’s Anirban Lahiri was off to a good start as the WGC – Cadillac Match Play began at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Lahiri, enjoying a remarkable season after winning the Maybank Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open just a fortnight apart, was two up through 12 holes against American Ryan Palmer.
The event traditionally pitches the top 64 players in the Official World Golf Ranking against each other in a straight knock-out, but this year’s format has been altered to a round-robin of 16 groups with the winner progressing to the weekend’s knockout stages.
Lahiri took the first against Palmer with a birdie on the par five, and another gain on the fourth put him two up.
Three-time US PGA Tour winner Palmer squared the contest by taking the fifth and eighth with birdies, but Lahiri – who came through last November’s Qualifying School – restored his lead when a birdie at the ninth was followed by a Palmer bogey on the next.
In the other group 6 contest, England’s Justin Rose was two down to Australian Marc Leishman through 13 holes.
His compatriot Ian Poulter was also in a spot of bother as he found himself three down to Webb Simpson through ten holes, but there was an Englishman on top in group 10 with Tommy Fleetwood one up on Sergio Garcia.
World Number One Rory McIlroy was among the later starters, with the Northern Irishman kicking off his campaign against former US PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner.
