Defending champion Ian Poulter and past U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell are through to the last 16 no matter the outcome of their second round robin matches in the Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Spain.
Poulter is assured a place in tomorrow’s start to the knock-out stage of the Euro 2.75m event after fellow Englishman Tom Lewis defeated Australia’s John Senden 1 up this morning on the Finca Cortesin course.
Poulter still has to play Lewis this afternoon in the final match of the round robin format of the Euro 2.75m event and no matter who wins both will go through to Saturday’s last 16 and the start of the knock out stage of the event.
What only remains to be decided is whether Poulter or Lewis finish top of their group.
Poulter had defeated Senden on day one meaning the Australian is out of the competition.
McDowell is playing South African Jbe Kruger who squared his match this morning with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson.
It means that if McDowell does lose to Kruger he will advance to the final 16 as Karlsson did not win any of his two round robin encounters.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie also booked his place in the last 16 despite after squaring his match with Columbian Camilo Villegas.
“It was tricky out there in the wind this morning but the match was poor and both of us played horrible golf,” said Lawrie.
“I was two down there at one stage but three holes in a row from the 12th but Camilo then won 17 with a lovely shot into the hole.”
Lawrie had defeated Sweden’s Peter Hanson on day one and Hanson will now play Villegas this afternoon to decide who joins Lawrie.
Also through to the last 16 is Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello who has both his matches including defeating England’s Richard Finch 4 & 2 this morning.
In other second round matches this morning Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn defeated South African Branden Grace 2 & 1; Spain’s Alvaro Quiros defeated Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka 5 & 4; England’s Robert Rock defeated Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke 1up and South African Retief Goosen defeated Belguim’s Nicolas Colsaerts 2up.
And Italy’s Matteo Manassero is Euro 15,000 richer without even teeing-up in Spain.
The double Tour winner was first reserve into the event but as no player had withdrawn the teenage Italian was no required to play.
