2/22/2012

YE Yang Knocks out GMAC


Korea’s Y E Yang became the first player through to the second round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship with a 2 and 1 victory over Graeme McDowell.

The 2009 US PGA Championship took a topsy-turvy contest when he birdied the 17th from five feet.

It was a repeat of the pair’s third-round contest 12 months ago, when Yang beat the 2010 US Open Champion 3 and 2.

Yang’s win set up a second round contest with either Hunter Mahan or Zach Johnson, and Mahan was one up on his Ryder Cup teammate with three to play.

Also playing in the Ben Hogan bracket, Steve Stricker and Louis Oosthuizen were one up at the turn against Kevin Na and Aaron Baddeley respectively.

In the Sam Snead bracket, Gonzalo Fernandez-CastaƱo took the opening hole against Tiger Woods with a birdie, and doubled his lead with a 25 footer at the next.

Matteo Manassero was also two up, against another American in Webb Simpson as their match reached the turn, while Paul Lawrie also led by two against Justin Rose.

"I'm playing good - today is a big mountain over," said Yang, whose run to last-years quarter-finals represented his best performance in the event.

“I made six birdies today, I played decent golf but I ran into a man that played extremely well,” said McDowell.

“I felt like I had to follow him all day long, and I did most of the day, but he didn't put a foot wrong. 

“That's the beauty of this tournament. It's not the beauty - it could be the beast of this tournament, as well. You just run into the wrong guy on the wrong day, and you have got your work cut out. I had my work cut out today, and I didn't take care of business, so I’m disappointed.”