MARANA, Ariz. — Hotter than his matching pink shirt and shoes, Rickie Fowler led a dynamic charge of the next generation yesterday in the Match Play Championship.
Fowler brought Dove Mountain to life as much with his golf game as his colorful attire, making two eagles in a span of three holes to send Phil Mickelson to his worst loss ever in this fickle tournament.
Equally impressive was Italy’s teen sensation, 17-year-old Matteo Manassero, who hit a 6-iron to four feet on the 17th hole and closed out Charl Schwartzel of South Africa to advance.
Of the 16 players remaining, eight of them are under 30. That includes Nick Watney, who steadied his emotions over the last three holes to knock out top-ranked Lee Westwood — the third straight year the No. 1 seed did not make it out of the second round.
The highest seed remaining after two wild days was PGA champion Martin Kaymer, the 25-year-old “Germanator” who had to go 20 holes to beat Justin Rose. Kaymer will have to reach the championship match to go to No. 1.
Mickelson didn’t play his best, and it might not have mattered. Fowler seized control with a tough pitch to close range on the eighth, chipped in from off the green on the 10th, then made two eagles. He ended the match with a 4-iron from 232 yards that rolled so close to the flag that Mickelson conceded the eagle.
“He doesn’t really have a weakness,” Mickelson said. “He really is a complete player, and he put it together today. I just couldn’t keep pace. I think he’s going to do a lot for American golf.”
It hasn’t been a bad week for the Americans at this World Golf Championship. They have eight players in the round of 16, the most Americans in five years. The surprise is the list of players.
Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk were gone after the first round. Mickelson joined them yesterday.
Leading the way is a new cast of emerging stars, from Fowler and Watney, to Hunter Mahan, who won three of the last five holes to rally against Robert Karlsson.
Jason Day, a 23-year-old Australian, played like a veteran in a 4-and-2 victory over Paul Casey.
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell had no trouble with Ross Fisher in a 4-and-2 victory, which assured he will move ahead of Woods in the next world ranking.
