McIlroy twice came from behind to see of Smylie Kaufman 3&1 and stay joint-top of group 3, as world No 1 Spieth made a fast start on his way to a 5&4 victory over Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson.
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Australian Day also remained ideal when he shrugged off back spasms that hit him after his tee shot at 15 on Wednesday to beat Thai Thongchai Jaidee 5&3.
“I was so disappointed and so angry last night that I was injured because I have been doing the right things with my body”, Day said. “Been able to flight the ball nicely”.
After being forced to concede the hole and the match, Berger told reporters: “I don’t even know what happened”. It’s nice, especially with the ball striking and the wedges. “Really started showing signs of that work this week”. “And the longer the match goes on I feel like I have a better chance just from different experiences and having a good record in matchplay”.
He was hustled straight from his victory at the 16th green to get treatment and emerged about an hour later with painkillers, before being ushered away from the course.
But in classic matchplay style, Spieth conjured an up-and-down, Dubuisson three-putted and after the American reeled off three of the next four holes that was basically that.
“It’s not too bad”.
“My confidence is higher today than it was yesterday – my play definitely moved up a level”, he said. “And Jamie, I’m not sure what he would say about it. Everyone was very respectful, but every single step I took, somebody was yelling at you, “Hook ‘Em Horns” or ‘Go Jordan, we’re rooting for you.’ Which is really, really cool”.
“The biggest hurdle for me was to get through the warm up without going, should I push it or should I not”.
It was perhaps to the detriment of others involved in matches taking place at the time that the focus on the second afternoon of the WGC-Match Play Championship surrounded whether one player would take to the course at all.
Golf Channel reported that Day said, after his tee shot, “I’m not going to try and force anything today, but I will say this, if I’m done for the day, I’m done for the week”. “It’s a little bit different tomorrow, knowing that I’m playing Kevin, and you win or you’re heading home. There’ll be more intensity”.
Mickelson was all square on the last hole when Berger drove left next to a rock structure that forms the 10th tee box.
Phil Mickelson edged Daniel Berger, 1 up, while fellow group member Patrick Reed defeated Matthew Fitzpatrick, 4 and 3. A fun opportunity to play against him. The two traded leads throughout the day and were all-square heading to the 17th. “And that’s the approach I’ve adopted the last few years”.
“Match play is all about just getting through”, McIlroy said.
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“I’m just happy that I hit some good shots coming in”. The wind carried it over the green there. Day was in serious danger of categorising himself as a drama queen with this, plus the converted eagle putt which followed. “I was standing over it thinking something has got to go in eventually”.
