Rory McIlroy remains unstoppable in #DellMatchPlay

European Tour Report

March 26, 2016: Defending champion Rory McIlroy made it ten consecutive unbeaten matches in the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship to secure his place in the last 16 at the expense of Kevin Na.

The World Number Three won seven times en route to victory in San Francisco last year, and he triumphed in his first two matches at Austin Country Club to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Na, who also had two points from two.

Nothing could separate the pair after 18 holes – McIlroy missing a 15-footer on the last for victory – but on the second hole of the sudden-death play-off, the four-time Major Champion prevailed with a par. He will face Zach Johnson on Saturday morning.

Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who holed a 90-foot putt to beat Kevin Kisner on Thursday, produced more late heroics to win his group and progress through to the last 16 for the first time in his career.

One down on the last to Søren Kjeldsen, he drove the green and two putted for birdie to win the hole and claim a crucial half point, setting up an all-European Tour clash with Byeong Hun An, who halved with Rickie Fowler on day three.

An then saw off Scott Piercy in a play-off after both finished with two and a half points in Group Five, and there was also success for Louis Oosthuizen, who beat Andy Sullivan 4&2 to win Group 16, and Patrick Reed, who downed Phil Mickelson 5&4 to win Group Nine.

Oosthuizen next faces Jordan Spieth while Reed will take on Dustin Johnson, who beat Kiradech Aphibarnrat in a play-off to decide the winner of Group Eight.

“I was up for the first time after 15, but gave it back on 16. I just stayed really patient and started to hit some really solid shots. At the end of the day, it was a mistake of Kevin that gave me the match. I just hung in there tough and I’m excited to get through to the weekend,” explained McIlroy

“I’ve played with Zach a little bit in the Ryder Cup, and he’s a great competitor. This golf course sets up perfectly for Zach. If he can get the ball in play, he’s going to be very tough to beat. I’m going to have to be on my game. If Zach gets it in the fairway, he’s going to have as good a chance as anyone around here. I’m going to have to play really well tomorrow and respond to some of the things he does because most likely I’ll be playing second into the greens.”

“It was definitely that proper match play feeling that if you lose, you are going home. I played really solid. I didn’t make a lot of birdies – I had a lot of putts shave the edges – but I gave myself really good opportunities and I put pressure on Andy the whole time coming in. It was just in my favour today. I need to play a little better than I did today,” said Louis Oosthuizen. “I need to make those birdie putts. Jordan’s probably the best putter out there and I can expect him to make quite a few putts for birdie or save pars, whatever it might be. It’s going to be tough with the crowd on his side but hopefully I’ve got a few fans out there.”

“I was three down through seven against Rickie and getting a bit down. But I stayed patient and managed to come back with a good run. I had a chance to close it out on 17 but it wasn’t an easy putt, then he made a nice birdie on 18 for the half,” Byeong Hun An said.
“I’m just happy I managed to win the play-off. I had the perfect yardage for my wedge into the green and managed to hit it close.”