Garcia edge past Shubhankar

Shubhankar Sharma pushed the reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia to the fullest before losing by a hole in his first match at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match-Play Championship.

Garcia almost joined the ranks with defending champion Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy -- who lost their opening matches -- but managed to scrape through on the 18th hole.  Austrian Bernd Wiesberger shocked Johnson 3&1 while Peter Uihlein defeated McIlroy 2&1.

Other big names like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Jason Day their opening matches. Spieth beat Charl Schwartzel, Thomas got past Luke List and Day got past James Hahn.

Shubhankar, 21, led at various stages before being level at the 18th tee. Garcia then pulled ahead to win the last hole and the match in his first appearance since becoming a father last month.

"I am very proud of the way I played. Both Sergio and I made a lot of mistakes out there but then I holed a great birdie putt there on the 16 from 15-feet to match Sergio's birdie and then a good putt for par on 17 (six feet) to save par and send the match down the last.

"It could have gone either way at the last and I have to congratulate Sergio as he played a fantastic up-and-down for par from the bunker. I just feel like I made a few too many mistakes today and not enough birdies, as I do normally," Sharma said.

Garcia, a veteran of match play, lavished praise on the Indian youngster. "It was a good match and I enjoyed playing alongside Shubhankar as he is a very good player and certainly has some talent," he said.

It was Garcia who got off to a fine start and was 2-up after just four holes. But the Indian won three holes in a row from the fifth to not only draw level but move ahead through eight holes. The duo halved the ninth and they took the turn with Shubhankar in lead.

It became a seesaw battle as Garcia won the 11th to get back to all-square but Sharma birdied the 13th to take back the lead. Once again Garcia birdied 14th and send the match back to all square. Then the two halved 15th, 16th and 17th before Garcia pipped the Indian at the post.