McDowell and McIlroy safely pass opening examinations

GRAEME McDOWELL and Rory McIlroy cruised to comfortable first round wins in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

But while McDowell was as diplomatic as ever in his post-round interviews, McIlroy’s tendency to commit youthful indiscretions got the better of him again when he inadvertently threw Tiger Woods under the bus.

Asked about the changing of the guard in golf following 17-year-old Matteo Manassero’s 2 and 1 win over 44-year-old Steve Stricker, McIlroy smiled and said: “I think the young guys are good enough to compete with them. But I mean, I don’t think Tiger and Phil have got any... well, Phil hasn’t got any worse.”