AUSTIN, Texas — Cameron YoungHis best shots were saved for Sunday’s end in a dramatic turnaround to knock out Rory McIlroy. It was then Sam BurnsTo eliminate a close friend and defending champion, he won a surprise win. Scottie Scheffler.
The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play’s final edition was full of entertainment.
It was the first occasion in the 24-year history of semifinal matches that both went extra holes. Young and Burns won the final battle between two of the best players in the world right as Austin Country Club was about to be set for a dream title bout.
In overtime, McIlroy was ahead of Scheffler. McIlroy missed the birdie putt at 9 feet on the extra hole. Scheffler needed to putt a 4-foot birdie to win the second extra hole. He missed the cut, and Burns won with a birdie at the next hole.
McIlroy was up 2 with three holes remaining and never trailed on his back nine. He threw his tee shot into the bunker on the par-5 16, which prevented him reaching the green. Young won with a birdie. They halved their par-3 17th.
McIlroy was very close to matching his heroics on Thursday, when he drove the 18th hole. This time the ball hit the bunker’s top collar, and it rolled back into a terrible lie. Young was just short of the cut and hit a beautiful pitch and run up the slope to 8ft and holed the birdie to send the match to extra holes.
McIlroy had an advantage even then.
Young’s drive at the par-5 12th came to an abrupt halt against a collar. McIlroy stayed away from the water, making bogey on No. 12 in regulation from Lake — but he came up short, chipping to just within 10 feet. Young’s third shot was approximately the same range.
Young made a clutch putt. McIlroy lost in 19 holes after a missed putt.
McIlroy stated that he didn’t do enough over the last four holes to close out Cam.
Scheffler was trailing for the third match in a row after Burns won the first three holes. The Texas Longhorn, however, rallied to catch Burns. He then took a 2-up lead through the 10th hole.
Burns rallied and won the 13th with birdie. He then hit wedge to 5 feet to win 15th and take lead with tap-in birdie 17th.
Scheffler made a pitch to the back pin from just under 5ft for birdie on the closing hole. They split the 12th hole with birdies. Scheffler looked like a winner when he hit a wedge that reached 4 feet on the 13th.
Scheffler watched in shock as Burns missed his birdie, and then he putt his winning shot. That was the break Burns needed. Burns hit his approach from 15 feet to a fairway bunker at the 14th. He then made the birdie to win in just 21 holes.
Scheffler and McIlroy meet in a consolation game. Young, who competed in two majors last summer, is now closer to his first PGA Tour championship.
