Golf: Defeat leaves McIlroy searching for form

Ireland’s Shane Lowry defeated the two-times major winner one-up with the aid of chip-ins.

MARANA: A stunning first-round loss at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship on Thursday left world number one Rory McIlroy pondering how to turn around his poor 2013 form.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, an old friend of the Northern Irishman from their amateur days, defeated the two-times major winner one-up with the aid of chip-ins at the 11th and 12th holes at Dove Mountain, and an eagle on the par-five 13th, where he hit a fairway wood from 258 yards to five feet.

“I didn’t make enough birdies in the end,” said McIlroy. “Shane had a nice little stretch around part of the back nine. I hung in there, but I just didn’t do enough.”

Meanwhile, 14-time major champion Tiger Woods also toppled in the first round.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2013.