After the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, many of Europe's top players were left booking an earlier flight home than they had originally planned. Ian Poulter, the 2010 winner of this event, was one of the favorites due to his supreme matchplay record in both individual and team competitions. Poulter lost 2 & 1 to Rickie Fowler. In 2014, Poulter's results haven't been up to his usual high standards, with a T47, missed cut, and 59th being his results, all in America.
Lee Westwood, who recently split with coach Sean Foley, lost 5 & 3 to Harris English. The former world number one is now down to 33rd in the world and has not won since the 2012 Nordea Masters. The Englishman's results in 2014 have been better than his friend Poulter's, with a 47th, missed cut, and 20th being his finishes, also all in America.
Another former world number one, Luke Donald, has been undergoing swing changes with his new coach, Chuck Cook. As a result, he's now 20th in the world rankings, but successfully defended the Dunlop Phoenix on the Japan Golf Tour at the end of last year, so he seems to be going in the right direction. The 2011 winner of this event lost to a similar player in Matteo Manassero 5 & 4 in this year's staging. Donald played his first two events of this year in the Middle East, with results of 37th and 57th.
Lastly, Martin Kaymer, yet another former #1-ranked player in the world, has struggled to recapture that form. Down to 49th in the world, the 2010 PGA Championship winner lost to Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama 2 & 1.
Despite these first round big-name European casualties, there was an "upset" produced by a European trying to get back to full fitness. Peter Hanson defeated Dustin Johnson, considered by some to be the pre-tournament favorite, 4 & 3. The two-time Ryder Cupper has struggled with a back injury since the beginning of last season, but some positive results over the last 5-6 months has him optimistic about a return to form.
Jamie Donaldson, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Stephen Gallacher, Mikko Ilonen, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Pablo Larrazábal, Joost Luiten, and Francesco Molinari, who are all looking to earn Ryder Cup spots in captain Paul McGinley's team, lost in their first round matchups.
