KAVARNA, Bulgaria (AP) — Ryder Cup winners Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts were the unexpected losers on the first day of the World Match Play Championship.
Poulter was handed a 3 and 2 defeat Thursday by Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee on the Gary Player-designed Thracian Cliffs course in the first major tournament held in Bulgaria.
Poulter says: “I got off to a good start with birdies on the first three holes and it was then a combination of a couple of mistakes and handing Thongchai too many holes.”
Defending champion Colsaerts was never in front against Branden Grace, with the South African winning 4 and 3.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell — the highest ranked player in the field at No. 8 — also recorded the biggest victory in defeating England’s Chris Wood 5 and 3.
