Rory McIlroy qualifies for WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play semi-finals after Xander Schauffele nail-biter | Golf news

Rory McIlroy is through to the WGC Match Play last four at Austin Country Club after beating Xander Schauffele; Scottie Scheffler was imperious on the back nine as he came from three holes down to beat Jason Day; Sam Burns is also through to the semi-finals

Last Updated: 26/03/23 7:45am

    Rory McIlroy edged Xander Schauffele on the final hole of their quarter-final in the WGC Match Play

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    Rory McIlroy edged Xander Schauffele on the final hole of their quarter-final in the WGC Match Play

    Rory McIlroy edged Xander Schauffele on the final hole of their quarter-final in the WGC Match Play

    Rory McIlroy will face Cameron Young in the semi-finals of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after a nail-biting win over Xander Schauffele.

    World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is also through and plays Sam Burns after producing a back-nine masterclass to come from three behind to beat Jason Day.

    After being deadlocked from the 12th hole onwards, McIlroy and Schauffele both found trouble from the tee on the 18th leaving difficult approach shots to the green.

    The American was worse off and could not find the putting surface with his second shot. He chipped onto the green to give himself a chance with his third before McIlroy stepped up and holed a magnificent birdie from 12 feet at the last to seal a brilliant 1up victory.

    Scottie Scheffler (1) vs Sam Burns (13) – 3.05pm

    Rory McIlroy (3) vs Cameron Young (15) – 3.20pm

    watch the semi-finals and final of the WGC Match Play live on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm

    It was the first time he led in the entire match and it came at just the right time.

    “Yeah I feel great,” McIlroy, who beat Australian Lucas Herbert 2up earlier in the day, told Sky Sports. “If someone told me I was going to be a combined 16 under par for the two rounds, there’s no way I would’ve thought I played the 18th twice today but it just shows the calibre that you need to play at out here to try to beat these guys.

    McIlroy relished the pressure of head-to-head golf after The Players Championship and is still feeling great after 36 holes on Saturday

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

    McIlroy relished the pressure of head-to-head golf after The Players Championship and is still feeling great after 36 holes on Saturday

    McIlroy relished the pressure of head-to-head golf after The Players Championship and is still feeling great after 36 holes on Saturday

    “I got off to a little bit of a slower start this afternoon compared to this morning but was able to sort of battle and claw my way back and I held some great putts down the stretch to finally get the win.”

    Scheffler was three shots behind his Australian opponent on the seventh after Day made three birdies and an eagle in the first six holes of their match-up, but hit eight birdies without a bogey during his round – including five in his last six holes – to claim a 2&1 triumph.

    It came after he completed an epic comeback to defeat JT Poston 1up earlier in the day, when he was sitting two behind going into the final four holes, before hitting three birdies and parring the last to claim an unlikely win.

    Scottie Scheffler acknowledges the gallery after defeating JT Poston

    Scottie Scheffler acknowledges the gallery after defeating JT Poston

    “It’s not like I was playing bad,” said Scheffler.

    “I was playing pretty solid. There’s not much you can do. So I was like, ‘hey man, if you’re going to do that then I tip my cap to you, that’s just good golf and there’s nothing you can do to stop it’.

    “If he was to keep it up for the whole round, I would just say the same thing, just take my hat off, shake hands, and say great job. Fortunately for me, he wasn’t able to do that.”

    Burns beat Mackenzie Hughes 3&2 top reach the semi-finals and face his good friend Scheffler.

    Young was the final player to seal a last-four berth, defeating Kurt Kitayama 1up, to set up the clash with McIlroy.

    McIlroy: Winning the Match Play is a massive accomplishment

    McIlroy, who previously won the tournament in 2015, revealed after his victory how much he would covet being crowned WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play champion once again.

    McIlroy is through to the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play semi-finals

    McIlroy is through to the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play semi-finals

    The 33-year-old, who is playing with a new putter and driver shaft, said the psychological toll of the format made it tougher to triumph than many of the other events on the tour.

    “I think winning the Match Play is always a massive accomplishment because of what you have to go through,” said McIlroy.

    “It’s seven rounds and, especially this week, I feel like a lot of my matches have been really, really close, so to be able to pull them out when I’ve needed to has been very gratifying.

    “Maybe there’s a higher sense of satisfaction when you get through on Sunday night and you’re able to win. I feel like it’s maybe just more of an achievement mentally to do it rather than just winning a four-round stroke-play event.”

    Watch the semi-finals and final of the WGC Match Play live on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm on Sunday.

    Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland

    Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland

    Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

    Related Posts
    End of career for the popular Volkswagen Passat thumbnail

    End of career for the popular Volkswagen Passat

    Suspendată inițial doar temporar, producția sedanului Volkswagen Passat a fost oprită definitiv de producătorul german. Principalul motiv este acela că versiunea break a popularului model (Variant) a înregistrat vânzări mult mai bune. Lansarea lui VW Arteon facelift a fost un alt factor decisiv în luarea acestei decizii. Ca să nu mai vorbim despre criza semiconductorilor,…
    Read More
    Strasbourg wins the Eastern derby against Metz thumbnail

    Strasbourg wins the Eastern derby against Metz

    dimanche 9 janvier Strasbourg remporte le derby de l'Est contre Metz Metz 0-2 Strasbourg Buts : Ajorque (50e) et Aholou (91e) pour Strasbourg Le navire messin continue de couler. Pour la centième du derby de l'Est dans l'élite, Strasbourg n'a pas eu à forcer son talent à Saint-Symphorien pour l'emporter une troisième fois de suite…
    Read More
    CAN 2022 / le tableau final: le programme des demi-finales thumbnail

    CAN 2022 / le tableau final: le programme des demi-finales

    La Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2022 s’accélère. A partir du 23 janvier, la phase à élimination directe débute avec les huitièmes finale. Si l’on retrouve des favoris comme le Sénégal, le Nigéria, le Maroc ou encore le pays hôte, le Cameroun, l’Algérie, championne d’Afrique en titre a été éliminée dès la phase poule. À l’inverse,…
    Read More
    Index Of News
    Total
    0
    Share