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Little-knowns in Match Play spotlight

 
Published March 24, 2017

AUSTIN, Texas — Soren Kjeldsen and Alex Noren won their groups in the World Golf Championships Match Play on Thursday in windy conditions at Austin Country Club.

Rory McIlroy took the day off when opponent Gary Woodland withdrew for a personal matter. And it won't matter how McIlroy plays today. He was knocked out of weekend play when Kjeldsen won his second straight match after McIlroy lost to the Dane on Wednesday. McIlroy had not announced if he will enter the Houston Open next week.

It was pure chaos at the course where 30 mph gusts raged and made conditions so brittle that holes were won with bogeys.

Brandt Snedeker watched Andy Sullivan roll a putt to within 2 feet of the hole, only for the wind to blow back 7 feet away. Snedeker gave him the putt to halve the hole.

"Pure class," Sullivan said.

With a 5-and-4 victory over Daniel Berger, Phil Mickelson was 2-0-0 and leading his group, meaning a win or tie against J.B. Holmes today would guarantee he plays through the weekend.

Kjeldsen had no trouble with Emiliano Grillo in a 4-and-3 victory. Because he was scheduled to play Woodland in the final day of round-robin play, Kjeldsen was 3-0 and advancing.

Noren beat Bernd Wiesberger 3-and-2 his second straight victory. He only had to beat Francesco Molinari today to advance, but Molinari withdrew with a wrist injury, giving Noren a 3-0 record.

Jordan Spieth stayed in with a 4-and-2 victory over Yuta Ikeda.

"I've got to play better than I did the last two days and I know that. I've just got to have complete trust because why not at this point. It's a win or go home situation," Spieth said.

PGA: Trey Mullinax ran off nine birdies and saved par with a 15-foot putt on his last hole for 9-under 63 to take the clubhouse lead at the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande. The first round was suspended when heavy rain made the course too wet to continue play.

LPGA: Cristie Kerr, Mo Martin and In Gee Chun each shot 6-under 66 to share the lead after the opening round of the Kia Classic at Carlsbad, Calif. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome is among a group at 3-under 69.