Rory McIlroy has ‘one eye on Augusta’ as big names suffer defeats in Austin

McIlroy had led from start to finish to beat Scott Stallings 3&1.

GOOD START: Rory McIlroy, pictured, beat Scott Stallings on day one of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin (Eric Gay/AP)

Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm suffered opening-day defeats in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play as a buoyant Rory McIlroy turned one eye towards his latest attempt to win the Masters.

Fitzpatrick is the top seed in group 11 at Austin Country Club, but the US Open champion had no answer to a brilliant burst of scoring from opponent JJ Spaun, who cruised to a 5&3 victory.