The brake is set, and the matches are on. Here’s a look at how the drama progressed during the opening day at Austin Country Club, where all 64 players were featured in the first of three group stage games:
Group 1
Dustin Johnson (1) vs. Adam Long (61):
Kevin Na (28) vs Robert MacIntyre (41):
Group 2
Justin Thomas (2) vs. Matt Kuchar (52):
Louis Oosthuizen (22) vs. Kevin Kisner (34):
Group 3
Jon Rahm (3) vs Sebastian Munoz (56):
Ryan Palmer (24) vs Shane Lowry (38):
Group 4
Collin Morikawa (4) vs JT Poston (63):
Billy Horschel (32) vs Max Homa (35):
Group 5
Bryson DeChambeau (5) vs Antoine Rozner (58):
Tommy Fleetwood (21) vs. Si Woo Kim (45):
Group 6
Xander Schauffele (6) vs. Andy Sullivan (57):
Scottie Scheffler (30) vs. Jason Day (44):
Group 7
Peter Reed (7) vs Bubba Watson (55):
Joaquin Niemann (26) vs Christiaan Bezuidenhout (33):
Group 8
Tyrrell Hatton (8) vs. Matt Wallace (51)
Lee Westwood (18) vs. Sergio Garcia (39):
Group 9
Webb Simpson (9) vs Talor Gooch (59)
Paul Casey (17) vs MacCoinnich Hughes (48)
Group 10
Patrick Cantlay (10) vs Brian Harman (54)
Hideki Matsuyama (23) vs. Carlos Ortiz (42)
Group 11
Ian Poulter (60) def. Rory McIlroy (11), 6 and 5: McIlroy’s struggles continued recently, as he was the only time he was tied in the game on the first tee. Although McIlroy cut the deficit to 1 down after a birdie on the eighth hole, Poulter ran off five holes he won (he gave up numbers 9 and 11 and then an eagle 12, despite being 84 yards behind McIlroy ) to pour on, leading to an opening routine. McIlroy ‘s day ended with his drawing on the water at No. 13.
Cameron Smith (25) vs Lanto Griffin (46)
Group 12
Tony Finau (12) vs. Dylan Frittelli (64)
Jason Kokrak (29) vs Will Zalatoris (40)
Group 13
Viktor Hovland (13) vs. Kevin Streelman (53)
Abraham Ancer (27) vs Bernd Wiesberger (43)
Group 14
Daniel Berger (14) vs Erik Van Rooyen (62)
Harris English (19) vs Brendon Todd (47)
Group 15
Matt Fitzpatrick (15) vs Jordan Spieth (49)
Matthew Wolff (20) vs Corey Conners (37)
Group 16
Sungjae Im (16) vs Russell Henley (50)
Victor Perez (31) vs. Marc Leishman (36)