ROUND 16
TOMMY FLEETWOOD (21) def. DYLAN FRITTELLI (64), 4 and 3
The fourth hole produced the spectacular for the second day in a row, with Tommy Fleetwood riding an ace on the way to a comprehensive round of 16 victory over hopeful local Dylan Frittelli.
England’s Fleetwood won the first two holes to take the lead before Frittelli tried to mount a comeback with a birdie in the third. It was then that the game turned upside down. While Frittelli found a bunker on the par 3 tee, 3rd Fleetwood aimed 179 yards and hit the hole-in-one. Sergio Garcia had achieved an easy win at the same hole in a playoff against Lee Westwood on Friday. This time, he only sent Fleetwood to a lead of 2, but South African Frittelli – a former student at the University of Texas – never approached that point onward. Fleetwood was 3-up on the turn and 4-up after 10. Frittelli managed to win the 12th hole, but it was all over on the 15th.
Fleetwood said: “It was a smooth 7, carried down the slope and rolled back. We couldn’t see. There were four people behind and we still weren’t sure. He disappeared and went to the hole. I think it was a consecutive hole in ones in that hole because Sergio was the last person to play last night and then me this morning, so we’re doing well in that hole
BILLY HORSCHEL (32) won. KEVIN STREELMAN (53), 3 and 1
Billy Horschel flew out of the starting gates in the round of 16 against Kevin Streelman, making four birdies in the first six holes to establish a 3-up lead. His next birdie in par-3 11 strengthened his position and although Streelman managed to drive on the 13th green and was awarded an eagle, Horschel birdied 14 to once again be in charge in 4-up with four to play. Not ready to fall without a fight, Streelman reunited with birdies on holes 15 and 16 to bring some life to the game, but his tee shot on par 3 17 was dragged to the left and ended up bouncing in the canyon. From there, Horschel was able to close it.
Horschel said: I am a great club within 3 meters and in a hole game this is a big advantage. I think you saw it today. I managed to put the putts within 3 meters and Streels missed a few, which allowed me to be victorious.
VICTOR PEREZ (31) won. ROBERT MACINTYRE (41), 5 and 4
Frenchman Victor Perez galloped into the quarterfinals with a dominant display against Scotsman Robert MacIntyre. MacIntyre failed to recover the form that saw him leave the group, including FedExCup champion Dustin Johnson, but to be fair, it was Perez’s sparkling game that ensured this victory. Perez made three birdies in the opening four holes to jump to a 2-up lead and he increased to 3-up on the turn. Then he turned the screws. He made a 22-foot birdie on the 10th and a 19-foot birdie on the 11th to reach 5-up. When MacIntyre made three strokes, the 12th green Perez sat 6-up and unbeatable. The Scotsman added another highlight with his opening shot on the 13th airship nestled at 5 feet to keep things in yet another hole before Perez closed it.
Perez said: I knew that even with 3-, 4-up, nothing was (finished). There were a lot of holes, opportunities in the back where he could have made birdies, and I needed to keep going. So I did a few putts, which made it a lot easier.
SERGIO GARCIA (39) won. MACKENZIE HUGHES (48), 2 and 1
Sergio Garcia kept his championship hopes alive with a victory from behind over Canadian MacKenzie Hughes. The Spanish veteran found himself 1-down on six holes before an excellent tee shot on the par 3 7 th left him with just a meter and a half for a birdie and he duly matched the competition. Hughes’ stumble came around the curve with consecutive bogeys giving Garcia an advantage he would not give up. Hughes arrived in one with a birdie in the 11th, but Garcia’s opening shot in the drivable 13 found the green just 11 feet from the canopy and when Hughes failed to make the birdie, the eagle was awarded. Canada’s last hope then had a nightmare on green 14 – three 8-foot, 7-inch strokes to give Garcia a 3-point lead with just four holes to play. A glimpse of hope came to those north of the border when a birdie on the 16th and a big tee on the 17th brought Hughes to life, but when he couldn’t find a way to birdie from 3.6 meters, his challenge was concluded.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (30) def. IAN POULTER (60), 5 and 4
The University of Texas alumnus easily advanced to the quarterfinals in Austin. Poulter did not win a single hole. Scheffler took the lead after hitting a 6 foot birdie shot on the third hole. He also made the birdied eighth – after hitting a 190-yard approach at 4 feet – to take a 2-point lead up the curve. Birdies at 10 and 12, and a pair at 14, were enough to end Poulter.
Scheffler said: “I kept the intensity going all day. You could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn’t giving in at all. He was just waiting for a spark. He had some really good opportunities. I hit a big shot at 10 and I kind of took that hole out of it, and then another big shot at 11 and I kind of stole one again and really kept the momentum on my side. “
JON RAHM (3) won. ERIK van ROOYEN (62), 3 and 2
Rahm, the tallest remaining seed, used two half-turn eagles to advance to the quarterfinals. He closed the game in style, hitting a 240 yard approach on the par 5 from 16 to 11 feet and hitting the eagle stroke. Rahm tricked the other par 5 of the nine defenders, 12th, to tie with van Rooyen, but Rahm responded by winning the next two holes. He reached the 13th airship after hitting his 13-foot shot and won the next hole with a pair.
Rahm said: “It was a difficult game. We both continue to hold on. I feel that most of the time he hit strokes to win holes and had some chance of maybe getting a bigger advantage early on. … I give him 12, I win 13 and then, at 14, he loses that short too. So, I think that stretch of holes was big for me, obviously. “
BRIAN HARMAN (54) won. BUBBA WATSON (55), 2 and 1
Eight. In a straight line. Birdies. This is what Harman needed to win this match between two left-handed Georgia students. Harman had crashed when his birdie race started at the sixth hole. He was in 3 when the streak ended at hole 13. Watson retaliated, winning numbers 15 and 16 with birdies, but Harman’s pair in 17 was enough to end the game after Watson hit his opening shot in the penalty area. penalty.
Harman said: “Bubba took me out of this tournament several years ago. … It’s good to get the best out of him today because I think he’s about 10-0 against me. “
MATT KUCHAR (52) defeated JORDAN SPIETH (49), 1-up
Kuchar had a bit of revenge for the 2017 Open, when Spieth broke his heart with an exciting finish at Royal Birkdale. Kuchar did not lead until the final hole in his match on Saturday, giving a 6 foot putt birdie in 18 to advance to the quarterfinals of this event for the fifth time. Only Tiger Woods (6) was more in the quarterfinals. Woods and Kuchar are the only players to win the US Amateur and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Now Kuchar is trying to become only the fourth player to win the Dell Match Play several times. The win improved Kuchar to 14-4-4 in matches at the Austin Country Club.