Orlando, Florida: Rory Mcilroy suffered a shock opening defeat by world No.68 Soren Kjeldsen at the WGC-Match Play despite smashing a drive 410 yards. And the world No.2 - along with Jordan Spieth, who also lost on Wednesday - now faces a battle to reach the weekend knock-out stages.Dane Kjeldsen had never won a match in this event and missed his first four cuts after joining the PGA Tour this season.

 

 McIlroy (right) and Kjelsden (left) after the match (source: Getty images North America)

 

Big-hitting McIlroy seemed set to pound out a win when he won three consecutive holes from the 11th, including a birdie at the 12th when he out-drove Kjeldsen by 80 yards. He then nearly drove the green at the par-4 13th to take the lead.

But No.62 seed Kjeldsen drew level at 14 and hit wedges stone dead at 16 and 17 to win a high-quality contest 2&1 at the Austin Country Club in Texas.

 

 It was bad news for McIlroy in his hope to reclaiming the title (Photo: Getty Images North America)

 

 McIlroy wanted to win the title he first claimed in 2015 (Photo: Getty Images North America)

 

McIlroy, who won this event in 2015, can still ­qualify from the group but his fate is out of his hands.

He needs to beat Gary Woodland and Emiliano Grillo and hope other ­results go his way to avoid his last event before the Masters ending early. Last year only one player – world No.1 Dustin Johnson – lost his opening match and went on to reach the last 16.

 

 It was a frustrating round in Texas for McIlroy (Photo: Getty Images North America)

 

Kjeldsen, 14 years old than McIlroy at 41, said being the underdog took the pressure off him.

“Obviously the odds were against me but I played great today,” he said. “I didn’t look too much at what Rory was doing – I just concentrated on my own game.

“With my ranking, against everyone I play this week I am going to be the underdog but that is nice. I don’t hit it the longest so I need to be sharp with my wedges.”

Texan Spieth was already three holes down to No.54 seed Hideto Tanihara of Japan before he pulled his approach to the 16th green against a hospitality tent on his way to losing 4&2.

England’s Paul Casey, losing finalist in 2009 and 2010, beat Joost Luiten 2&1.

South Africa’s Branden Grace claimed the first win by beating Andy Sullivan 4&2, with former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel thrashing Ben An 6&5.

 

 McIlroy and Kjelsden have a chat as they go through their round (Photo: Getty Images North America)