The embarrassment continues for World No. 1 Rory McIlroy after the shock of being bundled out of the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.

Top-seed McIlroy was beaten by the current World No. 66 ranked Shane Lowry who fought back superbly to humble his good friend and management stablemate 1up in their 18-hole Dove Mountain struggle.

Once again, there will now be much debate on the worth of McIlroy’s new Nike clubs that again let him down in his first competitive appearance since missing the cut more than six weeks ago in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

A picture tells a 1,000 words as Rory McIlroy realises he’s out of the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship. (Pnoto – Fran Caffrey/www.golfbytourmiss.com)

And there will be more questions asked why McIlroy did not enter a tournament between Abu Dhabi and Arizona rather than seek to get more tournament sharp.

McIlroy and Lowry’s match was one of the last out and with the Irish pair having to wait nearly 27 hours beyond their original Wednesday morning allocated tee off time.

McIlroy, who was runner-up in the event last year, won the second and fourth holes to be 2up but Lowry was not about to give up winning the sixth and seventh to bring the match back to all square.

However McIlroy then won the ninth but Lowry won the 10th and 12th holes and was conceeded an eagle three at the par five 14th to go a surprise 2up.

But then Lowry gave one back when he missed a short putt at the next to be just 1up on McIlroy.

If there was a turning point in the match it happened at the 15th where McIlroy had to play a left-handed shot up against bushes  and then after putting the shot into a bunker the double Major winning played what can only be described as a weekend amateur shot in thinning his ball that flew the green and disappeared into bushes.

McIlroy and his caddy, J P Fitzgerald didn’t bother looking for the $5 Nike ball and instead McIlroy conceeded the hole to go back to 2 down and just walked straight to the next tee.

To his credit, McIlroy breathed life back into the match in birding the 16th to be just 1 down and two to play.

The duo halved the 17th and with McIlroy going within inches of holing his bunker shot for birdie at the 18th.

“If I had of hit my irons a little better today maybe I could have played better,” said McIlroy.

“I’m happy with the way I drove the ball but I just let Shane back into the match and then gave myself too much to do.”

McIlroy will now head to Florida and next Thursday’s starting defence of his Honda Classic title.

Lowry said:  “It feels quite good to win and to beat Rory.

Shane Lowry is all smiles after defeating World No. 1 Rory McIlroy in the opening round of the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship; (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“I got off to a bad start and Rory probably thought to himself it was his match but then I managed to get a few holes back so I gave him somthing to think about and then when  I chipped-in a 17 that was massive, so to beat him is really pleasing.

“I managed to stay calm throughout the match and when he handed me 15 although me knees were knocking over that putt on the last and I am sure there is a good few freinds back home now having a celebratory drink.”

Lowry now heads to a second round match against either American Rickie Fowler or Sweden’s Carl Petersson.  Fowler was 1up with a hole to play when poor light halted their match.

But while one former US Open champion departed another in Graeme McDowell is through to round two after defeating fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington 2up.

McDowell had lost the first hole to a Harrington birdie but it was the only time Harrington was ahead with McDowell winning the second, fifth and sixth holes.

Harrington did get back to all square with birdied at 12 and 13 before an eagle at 14 but McDowell won the 16th and then when Harrington failed to find the green in regulation he played a poor chip shot and conceeded to McDowell.

“It was always going to be tough tackling Padraig,” said McDowell.

“But when the chips were down he was always going to hole putts or chip in as he did on 15, so after being in control and enjoying what I was doing all of a sudden I was struggling.

“I was picturing the flight home and I was liking what I was seeing but why there is no such thing as an easy game, I am pleased to get through.

“I’ve got Alex Noren and that’s going to be tough as there is no easy matches out here.”