The format is notoriously unpredictable alright, but a perhaps the Aberdeen Asset Management the Paul Lawrie Matchplay could have done with a bit more boring conformity yesterday.
Anything can happen in matchplay, and just about everything did at Archerfield yesterday. The host and his three remaining fellow Scots all exited the competition, and three of the top four seeds went with them before we’ve even got to the last eight.
Alex Noren, the Scottish Open champion seeded second, is the only top order player left and that after a prolonged battle with Spain’s Nacho Elvira went all the way in the last 16.
First seed Chris Wood was ousted in the second round, fourth seed Richard Bland fell at the same hurdle, and third seed Matt Fitzpatrick, after winning his first two game so impressively, was comfortably defeated by Alejandro Canizares in the last 16.
Lawrie, Marc Warren, Richie Ramsay and Craig Lee were all ousted as well leaving no home interest for the weekend.
Noren is clearly the class of those left – the Swede’s the only player in the World’s Top 100 out of the last eight, and the only player in the Race to Dubai top 50 as well.
However he admitted that the format of two rounds was not just most tiring physically but also mentally after he ousted Nacho Elvira 2 and 1 in the last 16.
“You’re thinking about what the other guy is doing when normally you wouldn’t, and that adds to it,” he said. “It was a long day and two tough matches, and I’ll be needing my rest tonight.”
The win at Castle Stuart last month has had added benefits in helping him cope with the pressure situations.
“I think it’s knowing that you’ve been under that kind of pressure and still performed and come through,” he said. “I’d have liked to win a lot earlier but now I have I know that if the same kind of situation occurs then I’m ready for it.
“It was fantastic for us as Swedes to see Henrik (Stenson) win the following week, we’ve waited for a major so long. But not just him actually winning, but the way he did it.”
Although they might not have the rankings, it’s not as if those in the last eight didn’t play well to get there. Canizares was seven-under in beating Fitzpatrick, who was three-under himself for the 15 holes to lose 4 and 3, and finds himself still in need of points to secure his Ryder Cup place.
Morrison, the next best ranked player left after Noren at 113 in the world, had not shot a round even as good as par for five successive tournaments.
“It’s weird, I haven’t broken par for five weeks but here I am 20-under for three rounds, whatever it is,” he said after beating former Amateur and Dunhill Links champion Michael Hoey. “It really is a stupid game.
“I said to my wife, `Should I play this week?’ and she said `matchplay will be something different to get your head around’. It’s sort of working.”
It was a bad day for the well-supported home hopes, with in morning play host Lawrie leading Richard Green two-up with three to play and lost at the 18th, while Craig Lee battled back from two down to force extra holes but lost to Elvira at the 20th.
In the afternoon, Marc Warren shot out of the blocks with three birdies to be three-up after five, but young South Africa Haydn Porteous reeled him in by the turn and then use dthat momentum to dominate the back nine, eventually winning on the 18th.
Richie Ramsay ran into an old adversary in Ollie Fisher, who had beaten him in the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2005, and the young Englishman – ranked 567th in the world these days – won 3 and 1.
Results
Round Two (GB&I unless stated)
M Warren bt M Carlsson (Swe) 3&2; H Porteous (RSA) bt D Horsey 3&2; M Hoey bt M Southgate 2&1; J Morrison bt G Storm 4&3; R Ramsay bt R Kakko (Fin) 2 holes; O Fisher by S Khan 2&1; C Paisley bt P Meesawat (Tha) 1 hole; J Carlsson (Swe) R Rock 2&1.
A Wall bt R Bland 6&4; R Green (Aus) bt P Lawrie at the 19th; M Fitzpatrick bt M Ford 6&5; A Canizares (Spa) bt E De La Riva (Spa) 4&3; D Brooks bt C Wood 2&1; M Kieffer (Ger) bt M Illonen (Fin) 2 holes; A Noren (Swe) bt R Paratore (Ita) 4&3; N Elvira (Spa) bt C Lee at the 20th
Round Three
Porteous bt Warren 1 hole; Morrison bt Hoey 4 and 3; Fisher bt Ramsay 3 and 1; Carlsson bt Paisley 4 and 3; Wall bt Green at the 19th; Canizares bt Fitzpatrick 4 and 3; Kieffer bt Brooks 2 and 1; Noren bt Elvira 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals: 7.50 am Kieffer v Fisher, 8 am Wall v Porteous, 8.10 am Noren v Carlsson, 8.20 am, Canizares v Morrison.
