He never got to the point where Els started to fall, and was nine behind until it was time to take his hat and shake hands on the 14th green. Luckily for McIlroy, his opponent did not capitalize. Cuche walked 60 feet past his pin and three-putted for a bogey. So McIlroy escaped and with Donald doing the same thing, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland had a clear path to No. 1. Just a year ago, Donald had never contended in any major. He has been in the lead or tied for the lead after every round this week and his golf has reached the 18th hole. In Marana, Arizona, Tiger tapped in from 50 feet for birdie and drove to a four-way tie for fourth at 15 under. Bad Tiger missed three times to the desert and lost the hole once he hit left-handed. [Ming You Jing Chun Optimization Room QQ Contact 466401604883847810 product keywords Guarantee 4 on Baidu's front page Eight thousand per year give website one! Contact number 13422475786] Matteo Manassero decided otherwise, feeling none of the pressure this week. When it changed, he built a three-shot lead over Simpson, then had a series of one-putts for birdie and par on the back nine that held him together. For all the adventure, Woods never had trouble with the most important shot of the week, which came in Wednesday's match against champion. It turns out Donald won't be playing the 18th hole this week either. Rory is McIlory after Donald leaves felt its way. The U.S. Open champion took control by winning four straight holes and he was 3 up with three holes to play. Then a bogey on the 16th, and another on the 17th. Suddenly, he was 1 up on the 18th hole · Cuche, who suddenly found his game with a drive that challenged par. "Maybe the putt on 18," he said. For the first time since he first won this World Golf Championship in 2005, the No. 1 player in the world was beaten in the first round. There was no such thing as an upset, not with so many players feeling uneasy, even if they were not seeded No. 1, given the strength of the 64-man field over 18 holes of match play. Donald arrived this year as the first player to capture the money title on the PGA Tour and the European Tour in the same year, and he didn't finish among the top 30 in any of the three events he played this year. The last time that happened was in August 2009. "It was an awful ride home, believe me," said the man who has now lost five times in the first round. "I know the road. It puts a lot of pressure on you. Yes, I know what it feels like." "I don't think it affected my game today. I just didn't play well," Donald said. "I fought. I made too many mistakes. You can't play anyone in this event, let alone Ernie, when you're making too many mistakes." Overwon, 5 and 4, to become only the third No. 64 seed to win the tournament since this event began in 1999. Peter O'Mara beat Woods in Costa Rica in 2002, and Ross McGowan beat Steve Stricker two years ago at Dove Mountain. This was an 8-foot putt uphill. It gave him a stroke and a hard-earned victory over Fernandez-Castano in the opening round. It allowed him to return Thursday to Dove Mountain with only one goal in this wild match. Everyone felt the pressure at some point. That's the nature of this competition. Still, no one saw this coming. Donald will not have that privilege. (middot; Lieberg/AP) - Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the 15th hole against Charl Cuche in the championship match of the Match Play Championship golf tournament Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in Marana, Ariz. He heads to South Florida in two weeks for the next event at Doral. Comment Incorrections? Related theme articles: LG announces Optimus 3D Max for Mobile World Congress Donald on the way home while Tiger barely survives first round Skin cancer drug hope raised by study Donald on the way home while Tiger barely survives first round Skin cancer drug hope raised by study