WGC-Dell Match Play

Paul Casey concedes after two holes due to injury in opening round of WGC-Dell Match Play

March 23, 2022
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David Cannon

You don’t see matches end after two holes often, but that’s how many holes it took Corey Conners to grab a win Wednesday at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

That’s because Conners’ opponent, Paul Casey, conceded the first match of round robin play. Casey actually won his first hole against Conners, his par besting Conners' bogey. However, Casey hit two balls into the hazard on the second hole and soon withdrew from the match, citing injury. Casey's agent told Golf Digest's Shane Ryan that Casey is experiencing back spasms; following the match Casey went to the locker room to receive treatment.

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While he pulled out of the match Casey has not officially dropped from the tournament, meaning he still plans on attempting to play his scheduled Thursday and Friday matches.

Casey was in contention at the Players Championship two weeks ago, ultimately finishing third at the weather-wrecked event at TPC Sawgrass. He was a pre-tournament WD from last week’s Valspar Championship—a tournament that accounts for two of his three career PGA Tour wins—but that was chalked up to the toll of contending at the Players rather than an injury-related decision.

Casey has an exceptionally solid record at the WGC-Match Play, reaching the Sweet 16 seven times in his last 11 starts here and finishing runner-up twice. Casey is scheduled to face Alex Noren at 9:31 a.m. on Thursday, with Coreys taking on Louis Oosthuizen at 9:20 a.m..