RORY McILROY was brought crashing down to earth after his Arnold Palmer Invitational victory as he was floored in his opening match at the Dell World Match Play.
McIlroy lost 2&1 to American Peter Uihlein at 63rd in the world rankings, one of the lowest ranked players in this elite World Golf Championship field.
But it looked like being a far more humiliating comedown for the former world No 1. He found himself five down after ten holes, before rediscovering some of the magic that brought him his first win in 18 months.
McIlroy rattled off five birdies in a row from the 12th to give himself the chance of salvaging an outrageous tie. But it was all over when the birdie spree ended at the short 17th.
He admitted he found it hard to come out firing just 72 hours after a brilliant final round 64 saw him win by three shots at Bay Hill.
He commented: I didnt play that badly early on I just came out a little flat, and the conditions were a bit tricky. It was a bit gusty out there which made it hard to find a rhythm.
He was a few under for the front nine, and he didnt make a single bogey all day. It was hard to try to claw it back after that start, but I made him earn it at least. I made the scoreline a little more respectable.
At least the format of this event means I still have two more matches to give myself a chance of going through to the knockout rounds.
Obviously its out of my hands now, but I just have to forget this one and win my next two matches. And hopefully it will still work out in my favour.
McIlroys former Ryder Cup partner, Ian Poulter, is very much in control of his own fate after dusting off the putter he used to spark the Miracle at Medinah and handing European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood a 3&2 beating.
Hhhmmmm what have I found in the office... Said 2012 Medinah putter...
Poulter was hailed as a Match Play Ninja by Fleetwood in the build-up to the all-England clash, and he showed there is plenty of life in the old warrior yet.
Poulter, 42, needs to win this World Golf Championship event or the Houston Open to qualify for the Masters in two weeks time, and he used his Twitter account to sound a real declaration of intent.
He tweeted: "I went to the putter stash in my office and pulled out the Ryder Cup Europe #Medinah putter for this weeks Dell Match Play in Austin Texas.
If there is a putter that can get the juices flowing its this baby. Lets be doing this. I want to play this years Masters.
Poulter admitted that putter had been put aside as a souvenir, before he decided this was the perfect time to try to recreate the same mojo.
He even donned a pink shirt that bore a striking resemblance to the one he wore when his five birdie burst inspired Europe to overturn a 10-4 deficit at Medinah six years ago with McIlroy as his admiring fourball partner.
There was no repeat of those putting heroics this time, but it was still a hugely satisfying win.