The reigning Masters champion, Jordan Spieth, made six birdies and closed out Mikko Ilonen on the 16th hole at the Match Play Championship in San Francisco, getting off to a good start at the round-robin tournament. Jason Day, the defending champion, was among those who lost and will need help to advance.
A version of this brief appears in print on April 30, 2015, on page B17 of the New York edition with the headline: Spieth Wins His Opening Match in San Francisco. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe