Marcus Fraser upsets Keegan Bradley at 2013 WGC Match Play

Fraser beats the odds to upset former major champion, Keegan Bradley.

There are always an upset or two in the opening round match of the WGC Match Play Championship, and today one of them goes to Australia’s Marcus Fraser.

Marcus Fraser has been in career best form on the European Tour. He has climbed his way to a world ranking of 52nd in the world, and a good performance at the Accenture Match Play may see himself with an invitation to the US Masters in April.

But not many pundits gave Fraser a chance against his more fancied rival, American Keegan Bradley.

While no more than one hole separated this paring the entire match, only two holes were won by a score of birdie or better, with the first coming via Bradley with this remarkable hole-out on the 10th hole.

Bradley nailed a 123 yard shot from the middle of the fairway at the par-4 10th hole. His ball bounced off the right side of the green and tracked down into the hole. A fluke perhaps but Bradley knows the course well and we’ll assign it to the ‘local knowledge’ department for now.

After that sort of blow, one might expect Fraser to cave in but the match was all-square when Fraser put his own mark of brilliance on the match by making a big birdie putt on the 17th hole.

Bradley missed from 10 feet and Fraser took a one shot lead to the final hole. Fraser and Bradley both found trouble with their approach shots, but Bradley more so. the hole was halved and Fraser claimed a remarkable upset victory.

Fraser faces Swede Fredrik Jacobsen in his second round match after he defeated Els at the final hole. In the other Australian match, Jason Day will face young American Russell Henley.

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