Austin, TX …
Former Irish Open winner Soren Kjeldsen is quietly confident of upsetting hot favourite Rory McIlroy in today’s (WED) WGC – Dell Match-Play opener in Austin, Texas.
The quietly-spoken Dane had the Irish Open trophy handed to him by McIlroy, as the tournament host, two years at Royal County Down.
However, there will be no love lost later between the No. 2 seed and the 60th seed Kjeldsen on the Austin Country Club laid out the banks of the Colorado River that cuts through the Texas capital.
Soren Kjelsen and his two biggest fans at 2017 WGC – Dell Match-Play. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s going to be a good match and clearly I have a lot of respect for Rory as he is such a good player and a great individual,” said Kjeldsen.
“But in saying that I know I have to play well if I am going to give myself a chance though at the end of the day we have the top 64 guys in the world here this week, and you are not going to beat anybody if you don’t play well”.
McIlroy wound-up his preparations in the $US 9.75m event teaming with Justin Thomas to take the money from the all-Spanish pair of Sergio Garcia and John Rahm.
Rory McIlroy chipping into 16 during a practice round on the Austin Country Club course
It was another Spaniard in Rafa Cabrera-Bello who bundled McIlroy out of the event a year ago in the tournament featuring three round robin matches and with the top-16 advancing to the weekend quarter-finals.
“I’ve come to know Soren really well and he’s a really gritty competitor so you know that he won’t give in,” said McIlroy.
“He will be also very steady so I am going to go out there and win, as it’s not as though he’s going to give you many holes.
Justin Thomas watches McIlroy play a practice bunker shot at 16.
“So, I know I am going to have to play solid by hitting a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. He’s not long off the tee but then you don’t need to around here.
“But the thing is, and Soren will agree, is that it will be friendships aside as we both want to be getting off to a winning start.
“And the more holes you can win that first match, the more easier it came become leading into the rest of the week.”
McIlroy faces Gary Woodland on Thursday, and with the American out for revenge after losing the 2015 final to McIlroy.
Then on Friday McIlroy is up against Argentina’s in-form Emiliano Grillo
Rory McIlroy drives off the 17th during practice for the 2017 WGC – Dell Match-Play
There was the sensitive side to McIlroy when at the 16th he was about to play a shot from the rough and spotted a baby turtle that he picked-up and place more out of harm’s way.
“That guy (turtle) was a long way from the river but he should be okay now,” said McIlroy.
But then was some amazement at the next, the par three 17th, when McIlroy’s tee shot cannoned off the rock face on the very raised green and with his ball disappearing into the Texas wilderness.
He was asked by a spectator what club he hit and McIlroy responded: “Clearly not enough”.
Rory McIlroy signs autographs for his younger fan base.
And McIlroy revealed if there was a song he could hear over loud speakers that he felt would give him an edge walking on the first tee it would be “All I do in win” by American rocker D J Khaled.
Shane Lowry, and the other Irishman in the field, tackles Garcia and with Lowry, like Garcia, each looking to advance to the last 16 after missing out a year ago.
Lowry only managed to secure a half a point and is joined only this year in his bracket by Rahm and American Kevin Chappell.
