Aussie winners and losers: 2011 Accenture Match Play round 1

Just two Australians are left in the Accenture Match Championship after the first round which also saw reigning champ Ian Poulter bundled out by Stewart Cink. We preview their second round matches below. But first up, here are the Aussie winners and losers from the first round.

Adam Scott lost 4 and 2 to Ben Crane. Ben Crane is one of the slowest golfers in the world and it would be tough to play against him. Scott didn’t help his chances by making one birdie all day and handed Crane two holes just by making par. Richard Green pushed Paul Casey to the 19th hole but should have done better. Casey won 5 holes to beat Green, all with just a par.

More disappointing was the in-form Robert Allenby. He shot just the one birdie in his 4 and 3 loss to Ross Fisher. I question whether Brendan Jones really wants to compete in this tournament. He hadn’t played a competitive round since early December and posted four bogey’s and one double-bogey in his 6 and 5 loss to Phil Mickelson.

The two Aussie winners were Jason Day and Geoff Ogilvy. Ogilvy’s win wasn’t a surprise over a ‘swing-changing’ Padraig Harrington but Jason Day squeezed out a gritty win. He was one hole down after 10 holes before rolling in three birdies and an eagle to win 3 and 2.

Round 2 preview for the two Australians left in the event, Jason Day and Geoff Ogvily.

Jason Day v Paul Casey (England)
Jason Day’s back nine in the first round may have just lit the fire. Maybe match play suits his game. He can attack pins a little more and he is certainly not short off the tee which can be a big advantage in this format. Every hole Paul Casey won in his previous match was with par. Day is a good chance to cause an upset but Casey has the form.
Prediction: Casey 1up

Geoff Ogilvy v Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)
Geoff Ogilvy was scratchy against an even scratchier Padraig Harrington but the win will do him good. He now faces Thomas Bjorn who disposed of Tiger Woods at the 19th hole. Bjorn is playing good golf and won in Qatar a few weeks ago. This is a dangerous match for Ogilvy but his experience with the format should get him over the line.

Prediction: Ogilvy 2 and 1.