WGC Match Play: Danny Willett’s dream debut continues
England’s Danny Willett continued his dream debut at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play defeating compatriots Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood on his way to the semi-finals.
Rory McIlroy meanwhile still has unfinished business in his quarter-final match with Paul Casey as the pair were unable to complete their sudden death play-off as the light faded on Saturday evening at TPC Harding Park, San Francisco.
McIlroy had a six foot putt to seal the match on the 16th green (the third extra hole of the play-off) but it slid wide and both players agreed the light was too poor to continue.
They will resume on the first hole at 06:45 on Sunday morning with the winner to face Jim Furyk in the semi.
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Willett set up a semi-final clash with American Gary Woodland who had defeated Australian pair Marc Leishman and John Senden to reach the semis, while Furyk took down JB Holmes and Louis Oosthuizen.
ou have to feel comfortable in this format – everyone is a good player and everyone can win if they play good golf" FOR MORE GOLF NEWS CLICK HERE
Before Casey and McIlroy went head-to-head they respectively took down Hideki Matsuyama and Charl Schwartzel. The semi-finals and final will take place on Sunday.
“I’m obviously delighted with how the week has gone so far,” Willett said.
“I swung it really well. I hit some good golf shots, putted nicely. It was a good, solid match against Tommy. You have to feel comfortable in this format – everyone is a good player and everyone can win if they play good golf.”
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Casey admitted he was relieved when the decision was made to finish off his match with McIlroy in the morning.
“I dodged a couple of bullets but felt I gave him one or two,” Casey said.
“I thought I was done for the day and the week on this green (the 16th). The beautiful thing is we hit the reset button, come back at 6:45am and start again.
“We looked at each other on the 15th (the second extra hole) and said ‘One more’. It really was dark, whatever the TV cameras are showing, and both of us agreed.”
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James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.