Rory McIlroy will meet Lucas Herbert in the last 16 of the 2023 WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play after both players maintained their 100 per cent records with impressive victories on Friday.
World Number Three McIlroy beat Keegan Bradley in a repeat of their 2012 Ryder Cup singles clash, winning 3&2 at Austin Country Club.
"Another great day where I struck the ball well and got up early, kept the pressure on Keegan.
"It was nice to get through to the weekend. I missed a couple of short ones out there later on in the day, but I was really pleased with how I putted at the start of the match. I holed some nice putts.”
Defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler continued his stellar run at Austin Country Club, steamrolling through his group with a perfect 3-0-0 record. As a result, he will face J.T. Poston in the Round of 16.
"The simplicity of it [match play] is what I like, said Scheffler. "Even if the guy is playing great golf, I know what I need to do. Sometimes you're under the buzz saw, which happens. I ran into a few buzz saws at the Presidents Cup last year, and that happens. Overall, I feel like if I'm playing my best, then I should win the match. That's what I'm focused on doing: Trying to go out and play my best and go from there.”
Scheffler is not the only big name to remain perfect in the Lone Star State. Rory McIlroy (NI), Patrick Cantlay (USA), Max Homa (USA), Xander Schauffele (USA), Sam Burns (USA), Cameron Young (US) and Jason Day (AUS) all managed 3-0-0 records in the group stage. However, World No. 2 Jon Rahm (ESP), Jordan Spieth (USA), Viktor Hovland (NOR), Collin Morikawa (USA), Tony Finau (USA) and Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) were all eliminated.
Matt Kuchar equalled Tiger Woods' record of 36 wins at this event with a convincing 7&6 victory over Si Woo Kim, booking his place in the last 16 in the process. Patrick Cantlay came out on top in his winner-takes-all clash against fellow American Brian Harman, securing a 2&1 victory to progress.
Dubai based Adrian Meronk (POL), lost in a three way play-off to Kurt Kitayama (USA) and also included Tony Finau after he defeated Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) by 5&4. Meronk was five under par when they shook hands on the 14th green. Kitayama now plays Andrew Putnam (USA) in the round of 16 today (Saturday).
Day Three Results (Seed number in brackets)
1. Scottie Scheffler (1) vs. J.T. Poston (43)
2. Jason Day (32) vs. Matt Kuchar (59)
3. Max Homa (5) vs. Mackenzie Hughes (50)
4. Sam Burns (13) vs. Patrick Cantlay (4)
5. Billy Horschel (22) vs. Cameron Young (15)
6. Kurt Kitayama (19) vs. Andrew Putnam (56)
7. Xander Schauffele (6) vs. J.J. Spaun (61)
8. Rory McIlroy (3) vs. Lucas Herbert (46)
Winners of matches 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8 will play each other in the quarterfinals later today (Saturday).
