Match play epics down the years
Tiger Woods vs. Stephen Ames
It’s another fantastic moment from Tiger. Before the 2006 WGC Match Play Tiger’s first round opponent, Stephen Ames, took a swipe at Woods.
In typical Tiger fashion he won the first nine holes of their match and went on to win 9&8. Ames will probably regret saying what he did before their match.
Tiger Woods’ 2006 9&8 win at Match Play over Stephen Ames https://t.co/KlB39aNUZB
— Skratch (@Skratch) March 20, 2018
You can read more about Woods vs. Ames in Throwback Thursday.
Jason Day vs. Victor Dubuisson
Victor Dubuisson and Jason Day played out an epic final in the 2014 WGC Match Play.
Day looked set to take the prize with in the 18 regular holes but Dubuisson won the last two holes to force the match beyond the 18th.
The Frenchmen made two fantastic escapes to keep on extending the tie but Day birdied the 23rd hole and won his first WGC title.
Patrick Reed vs. Rory McIlroy
On the final day of the 2016 Ryder Cup, Davis Love III sent talisman Patrick Reed out in the very first match to get points on the board and hold on to an overnight three-point lead. Reed would meet McIlroy, who had already riled up the US team by bowing in front of them after rolling in an eagle putt to win on day one.
The match promised to be a cracker, yet nobody was quite ready for what was to come. In the opening hour, the two set Hazeltine National alight, trading birdies and rolling in putts from seemingly everywhere. Each made-putt sparked a new celebration. McIlroy held his hands to his ears, taunting the U.S fans. When Reed replied, he’d hold his finger to his lips to shush the Northern Irishman.
Unsurprisingly, things cooled down on the back-nine. With Reed 1-up coming down the final hole, the American rolled in his birdie to close the incredible match.
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
