Dutchman Joost Luiten continued his unbeaten run easily defeating Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal 6 & 5 to move into the last four of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship.
Luiten, 28 continues to make amends in being overlooked for European Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ selection, demoralising Larrazabal with seven birdies in overcast and wet conditions on the London Club course at Ash in Kent.
The Bleiswijk-born golfer, who won all three round robin matches, was handed the first hole on a plate when Larrazabal found water guarding the green and proceeded to win the second, fifth, sixth, seventh and the 11th before claiming victory with a par on the 13th hole.
Joost Luiten easily accounts for Pablo Larrazabal winning 6 & 5 to storm into the semi-final of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
“I had a great start with three birdies to be 2up, so that was a really nice start and after that I just tried to keep going and tried to keep the momentum going and luckily I did that today,” said Luiten.
“Firstly, you just want to make it through the group stages and while I was unbeaten every match is a new game and you can lose at any time and to have a 100% record doesn’t say anything in this format.
“So I just have to go out again tomorrow and try to do the same, and make birdies and try and beat your opponent.”
A day earlier Luiten knocked out defending champion Graeme McDowell and now faces a semi-final showdown Sunday morning (UK time) with Finland’s Mikko Ilonen.
Ilonen defeated European Ryder Cup winning rookie Victor Dubuisson 2up in a see-sawing match with the Finn producing a bogey-free display while his French opponent in contrast three-putted three of the four par threes for bogey.
“It was a match that could have gone any way today but I was pretty confident I would come out in the end,” said Illonen.
“But one of the keys for me this week is that I have not felt nervous compared to other occasions when I have competed in big tournaments.”
South African George Coetzee, and the highest world player in the field at No. 89, was never behind in his match in eliminating American Patrick Reed 2 & 1.
Coetzee was a late entry into the event after Dane Thomas Bjorn was forced out through injury and now will face Illonen.
“I was playing well coming into this week and the name of the game in match-play is not give away any holes and I managed to do that,” said Cootzee.
“But you’re playing man on man and it’s the closest you get to contact sport in golf, I guess.”
And in the final quarter final match of the all-Sweden Henrik Stenson defeated Jonas Blixt by 2 holes.
Stenson will now face Coetzee for a second time in the event after the duo fought out a half on day one.
RESULTS – QUARTER FINALS.
George Coetzee, South Africa, def. Patrick Reed, USA, 2 & 1
Mikko Ilonen, Finland, def. Victor Dubuisson, France, 2 holes
Joost Luiten, Holland, def. Pablo Larrazabal, Spain, 6 & 5
Henrik Stenson, Sweden, def. Jonas Blixt, Sweden, 2 holes.
SEMI FINAL DRAW – SUNDAY MORNING.
George Coetzee, South Africa – v- Mikko Illonen, Finland.
Joost Luiten, Holland –v- Henrik Stenson, Sweden.
