Defending champ Poulter out at Match Play
England's Ian Poulter prepares to putt on the first green while playing Stewart Cink during the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship golf tournament. (Feb. 23, 2011) Credit: AP
MARANA, Ariz. - Ian Poulter has become the first defending champion in nine years to be eliminated in the first round of the Match Play Championship.
Stewart Cink never led until he holed a 4-foot birdie putt on the 19th hole to advance to the second round.
Cink could have fallen well behind, but made clutch putts on three straight holes, starting at No. 11. Poulter had a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to win and missed.
Poulter didn't make a putt longer than 6 feet the entire match. The last defending champion to lose in the first round was Steve Stricker 2002 at La Costa.
Cink and Poulter had to cut in front of the start of Tiger Woods' match, but it ended quickly when Cink hit a 6-iron that landed him 4 feet from the hole.
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