Rory McIlroy is out to exact revenge when he and Tiger Woods go head-to-head in today’s (SAT) final 16 showdown at the WGC – Dell Technologies in Austin, Texas.
The global golfing world is set to come to a standstill as heir apparent takes on the 14-time Majors winning Woods soon after dawn (US local time) in the Texas capital.
While McIlroy was humbled by Woods in capturing last September’s Tour Championship in Atlanta, it will be a first time in over five-years the Holywood golfing starlet and his blockbuster 14-Major winning rival will square-off in a true match-play scenario.
McIroy was never troubled easily accounting 4 & 2 over England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick while Woods bravely fought back from being 2-down after eight holes and depose of compatriot Patrick Cantlay 4 & 2.
It is the eighth occasion Woods has gone through to the last 16 and also gone onto to win three times.
McIlroy won all three of his round robin matches, as has he had done on route to victory in 2015, and was conceded his match against Fitzgerald when the Englishman sent his drive into water left of the par-5 16th.
McIroy comfortably found the green in two and with Fitzgerald removing his cap and extending his hand to his fellow Jupiter neighbour some 70-yards short of the green.
The World No. 4 ranked McIlroy had brushed-off on the eve of the event any talk of facing Woods for a place in the quarter-finals but there’s now no escaping their head-to-head confrontation.
And McIlroy needs no reminding the last occasion he and Woods were grouped in a regular tournament was the Sunday prior to last year’s Ryder Cup when Woods ended a five-year victory absence to capture the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
McIlroy was a mere passenger as Woods posted a closing round 71 and with McIlroy slumped to fifth on the back of a 74.
“It is really exciting for the tournament and it’s exciting for both of us, I’m sure,” said McIlroy.
“I am definitely excited so I am sure Tiger is, as well.
“I didn’t put up much of a fight in Atlanta last year at the Tour Championship, so hopefully I give him a better match tomorrow.”
The last time McIlroy and Woods actually went head-to-head in a match-play event was in late 2013 in their ‘The Match at Mission Hills’ on the Chinese island of Haikou.
McIlroy won the stroke-play showdown with a 67 to Woods 68 and a year after McIlroy also won the ‘Duel at Lake Jinsha’ also in China, and also with the same scores.
🐅 @TigerWoods advances to the @DellMatchPlay Round of 16.
Last time he did that? 2008.
He ended up winning. 👀#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/lCudMh6PfD
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 29, 2019
Woods won four straight holes with three birdies and an 83-yard lob wedge that spun back into the hole for an eagle , carrying him into the weekend with a 4-and-2 victory over Cantlay.
“Just got hot right when I needed it,” said Woods.
“I was fortunate enough to have things go my way today and I needed two things to happen, and that was to win my match and for Aaron (Wise) to beat ‘Sneds’ (Brandt Snedeker).
“That’s happened and I am very fortunate to move on and now face Rory in the morning.
“We’ve never battled each other in a match-play situation so it’s going to fun and I am sure both of us will be ready for it.”
2013 – Mission Hills, China. The last time Rory and Tiger went head-to-head. (Photo @tourmiss)
McIlroy went into the last of the round robin matches needing a draw, at worst, to make the last 16.
McIlroy did let Fitzpatrick off the hook after the Englishman’s poor drive off the first in missing a 13-footer birdie putt.
There was no lifeline for ‘Fitz’ at the next, and also after his second straight drive way right, with McIlroy sinking a 10-footer to go 1up.
McIlroy then went 2up with a birdie on five, 3up with a birdie on six and then a commanding 4up with a birdie on nine.
McIlroy handed Fitzgerald the 10th hole when he was forced to chip-out from behind trees down the left of the fairway and walking off with a bogey ‘5’ after Fitzgerald secured just his first birdie of the day to be back to 3-down.
Fitzgerald fought back to be 2-down with a birdie on 13 but no sooner McIlroy got back to 3up in holing a seven-footer for his sixth birdie of the day at the 14th.
They each had par 5’s on 15 before the inevitable outcome just short of the green on 16.
In his three matches, McIlroy had not been taken past the 16th hole.
“I feel like pretty much all of this year my game has been close to what I would think is some of my best golf,” said McIlroy.
“I just feel comfortable with my game off the tee as good as I ever had. I have tidied-up my iron play since last year. I found something with the putter, so I am sort of going with and feels really good.
“I would not say I am peaking but I can sustain this level so yes, it’s been a great start to the year already.”
