WGC-Dell Match Play 2023 standings, scores: Semi-finals set for Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler moving forward

A day that started with 16 opponents ended with just four competitors Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns and Cameron Young as the finalists at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play 2023 Finals. Four of the top 20 players. worlds will go head-to-head Sunday at Austin Country Club in the semi-finals before the final two winners meet in the title fight.

The world number 1 Scheffler will be tasked with defeating his good friend Sam Burns. Frequent outings from the golf course and going from tournament to tournament together, the two will put their friendship aside for 18 holes. This wouldn’t be the first time the pair met in a winner-takes-all match; Burns beat Scheffler in a knockout at the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge.

“We want to fight as badly as anyone, if not more,” Burns said. “Obviously, when we started it was going to be business and then we would hug and congratulate the winner.”

The remaining semi-final will feature the two best drivers McIlroy and Young. McIlroy overcame Xander Schauffele in the quarterfinals, not once leading a game until the last hit was dropped, and will now face arguably the hottest player in the championship in Young. McIlroy scored a total of 17 birdies on Saturday, and a similar effort will be needed if he is to get ahead of this American team.

Let’s see what Day 4 goes like at Austin Country Club.

Player of the Week (so far)

It could easily have been Scheffler or McIlroy, but Young performed brilliantly on his debut. The reigning Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour has 32 points under 81 holes in his first walk around Austin CC. He’s only seen the 18th hole twice, and it appears to be a haunted man with the new pocket hitter, Paul Tesori, by his side. Of all the players, he has certainly experienced the least amount of stress – whether that is good or bad will be decided on Sunday.

Afternoon match

In a match of the top 10 players in the world, McIlroy played 1 UP better than Schauffele. Double the lead after winning 3 & 2 at the 2021 Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits, McIlroy fell early as Schauffele converted 4 birdies in his opening 7 holes to 2 UP. A pair of birdies caught in the first leg from McIlroy ended the game as the players entered the meat of the golf course.

A back-and-forth occurs on 12-13 and sets the end of the day. Birdies on both 15 and 16 points took them to 17th tee by points. After McIlroy crossed the green with his tee shot, Schauffele hit inside 10 feet but failed to convert. McIlroy saw the crack and opened the door with his own birdie on the 18th. The world No. 3 had never taken the lead in this match until the last putt came down, and he did. He scored a total of 17 birdies in 36 holes between his two games.

Morning match

Herbert said Friday night that if McIlroy has his A-game, there’s likely nothing he can do about it. Herbert got that from McIlroy on Saturday morning. The two combined for the best 12-under 59 with McIlroy having a total of nine birdies and nine pars. Herbert wasn’t far behind with seven birdies of his own, including a clutch on the 17th hole to prolong the game before eventually being dropped 2 DOWN.

“I was beaten by the best player in the world who is probably playing the best golf in the world right now,” Herbert said. “You know, I have nothing but pride in the way I play. Pushed him [McIlroy] all the way to the end. I just don’t feel like I can do more than that. I played really, really well. Been playing well for four days in a row, so it’s frustrating to end the tournament here. Just really proud of myself.”

Performance of the day

Jason Day loves par-5 6th. Eagle on the hole in the morning session with Matt Kuchar, Day extended the lead over the former champion to 2 UP. Five hours later, Day played an almost identical hole to Scheffler. It proved to be a pivotal moment in the game as Day extended the lead over Scheffler to 3 UP – his biggest deficit of the week. Unfortunately for Day, that’s all the better as he falls to world number 1 2 & 1.

Quirky decision down the stretch

To get rid of the discomfort, you need to do some bouncing. Both JT Poston and Herbert had their opponents — Scheffler and McIlroy — on the ropes in the Round of 16 heading into the close before some bad decisions. Poston drew with Scheffler, and after the defending champion pulled the iron from the tee, Poston decided to follow suit. In the end, he made a bogey and lost the game 1 DOWN.

Meanwhile, Herbert reached the 18th 1 DOWN and took the title from tee. He also decided to back down, and when McIlroy hit his next drive near the green, the game was almost over. It’s a shame that two great attempts fail and derail other competitive matches, but the data doesn’t lie.

Scottie looks for another successful defense

Scheffler was able to defend his WM Phoenix Open win, almost did at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and is now well positioned to do it again in Austin. He will become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 — when he did four times — to successfully defend multiple titles in a single season. Scheffler won’t be able to match Woods’ total from 2007, but should be able to get closer if he wins on Sunday and adds a third at Augusta National in two weeks.

Scheffler is currently 10-0-0 in his last 10 matches in the WGC Match Play and will be looking to extend his winning streak to 12 on Sunday. He would take the second-longest winning streak in WGC Match Play history if he does, losing to Woods by one point and not having a chance to catch him by the time the event is over.

WGC-Dell Match Play Semifinals 2023

• Scottie Scheffler (1) vs. Sam Burns (13)
• Rory McIlroy (3) vs Cameron Young (15)