WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship: Round two recap, notes

Today, I followed Victor Dubuisson and Peter Hanson.  Dubuisson defeated Hanson 3&1, and will play Bubba Watson in the third round tomorrow.

Dubuisson, a 23-year-old Frenchman, showed some serious game against Peter Hanson, an established veteran from Sweden.

Dubuisson won the first three holes, but Hanson birdied five, six, and seven to square the match.  The 23-year-old was not rattled, and came back with a birdie on eight to take the lead.

The two players halved the next four holes, including the par-five eleventh with bogies.  On 12, Dubuisson drained a seven-foot par putt to retain his 1-up lead.  The putt on 12 was a gut-check, and Dubuisson handled himself well.

On 13, Victor received a gift when Hanson bogied the par-five to give him a two-up lead.  After Hanson’s slip up, Dubuisson coasted to victory.

Dubuisson takes on Bubba Watson in the third round, and I think he has the grit and determination to give Bubba a good match.

Rory McIlroy was knocked out by Harris English in 19 holes.  English was two-up with five holes to play, but McIlroy birdied 14, 15, and 16 to take a one-up lead.  English won the 17^th with a birdie, and outlasted Rory with a par on the first playoff hole.

Ernie Els continues to impress with a 20-hole victory against Justin Rose.  Els went 19 holes yesterday against Stephen Gallacher.

Matt Kuchar survived another day of match play to bring his WGC-Accenture record to 17-3.  He will face 20-year-old sensation Jordan Spieth in the third round.

Rickie Fowler defeated Jimmy Walker 1-up.  Fowler made clutch putts down the stretch to beat the game’s hottest player.

Graeme McDowell won another thriller in round two.  He defeated Hideki Matsuyama 1-up.  In round one, McDowell came back from three-down with three to play against Gary Woodland.

Round three matches:

Harris English v. Jim Furyk, 12:55 pm ET

Sergio Garcia v. Rickie Fowler, 1:07 pm ET

Hunter Mahan v. Graeme McDowell, 1:19 pm ET

Victor Dubuisson v. Bubba Watson, 1:31 pm ET

Louis Oosthuizen v. Webb Simpson, 1:43 pm ET

Jason Day v. George Coetzee, 1:55 pm ET

Ernie Els v. Jason Dufner, 2:07 pm ET

Matt Kuchar v. Jordan Spieth, 2:19 pm ET

Match to watch: Sergio Garcia v. Rickie Fowler.

TV: 2-6 pm ET on the Golf Channel

Match play bracket.