Tiger Woods and Aaron Wise were both up-and-down for much of their opening match at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club.
Woods, the 18-time WGC champion, took care of last year’s PGA Tour Rookie of the Year with a 3&1 victory, ending the match on the par-3 17th hole. It was Woods’ first round after a six-year match play hiatus, and also his first event in the Lone Star State in 14 years.
Woods capitalized on Wise’s early mistakes to claim an early 2-up lead through four holes before blowing it down the front nine stretch. At the turn, the players were even, with the momentum swinging in Wise’s favor.
SHOT-BY-SHOT: Recapping Woods’ match play win vs. Wise
Wise briefly held a 1-up lead after birdieing the par-4 10th hole. Woods responded with a par on No. 11 to get the match back to even as Wise made bogey. From then on out, Woods controlled the match, gaining a 2-up lead on the 15th hole and riding that out till the end.
Woods won seven holes to Wise’s four. The action continues tomorrow as Woods takes on Brandt Snedker (12:32 p.m. ET) while Wise plays Patrick Cantlay (12:43 p.m. ET).
WGC-Dell Technologies Match-Play Bracket
Here is the complete bracket for the tournament:
