Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood are headed for WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship semi-final showdown with the possible reward the World No. 1 crown.
McIlroy won his third straight match in this year’s $US 8.5m event when he defeated Spain’s wily Miguel Angel Jimenez 3 & 1 on the Dove Mountain course.
The reigning U.S. Open champion was never behind at any stage of his encounter winning the second hole with a par to go 1up and then move 2up and then 3up with birdies at the seventh and ninth holes.
Jimenez finally succomb to the Northern Irishman’s onslaught at the par four 17th when he conceeded to McIlroy.
“I hit some really good irons and felt I hit a lot of quality shots, especially coming down the stretch when I needed to,” said McIlroy.
“I’m driving the ball really well and that’s big positive.
“Miguel told me he hopes I go all the way and for me to get to Number One which was pretty nice of him.”
Westwood took care of Nick Watney 3 & 2 to set up a showdown against Scotland’s Martin Laird in the semi final after the newly-married Colarado based player defeated fellow Tartan player Paul Lawrie also by the margin of 3 & 1.
And like McIlroy, Laird was never behind in his encounter against a rejuventated Lawrie who recently captured a second Qatar Masters title.
Laird and Lawrie had never previously played each other in competition but when Laird pared the first and then birdied the second Lawrie knew he had a match on his hands.
As it turned out Laird kept the door shut on his opponent securing a par at the par three, 12th hole to go 3 up and while Lawrie birdied the 13th to get back to 2 down Laird won the all-Scotland encounter when Lawrie conceeded at the 17th.
“It was surreal playing against Paul and it’s a shame we were paired together,” said Laird.
“I really didn’t play well the last two weeks, but my coach got me sorted out.
“I’m looking forward to playing Lee and if I keep playing like I am it will be a good game.”
While Laird continues in the event Lawrie heads home to wintery Aberdeen warm in the knowledge his effort has assured him a place in April’s U.S. Masters.
He will take this week off from competition before heading back to the States to tee up in the following weeks $US 8.5m WGC – Cadillac Championship in Florida.
Lawrie then returns to Europe for his final pre-Augusta event when he defends his Andalucian Open title on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
While Lawrie makes his way home Laird is facing Westwood.
Success on Sunday would see Westwood again go back as World No. 1 since losing the accolade to Luke Donald at last May’s BMW PGA Championship.
Westwood has now led for 48 of his 49 holes he’s played in Arizona.
“I feel in control of nearly every part of my game,” he said.
“I did some good work on my chipping last week and played some really nice ones. It was nice to get my own back. I didn’t want to make it (losing to Watney) a habit.”
Westwood birdied the first two holes and then went 3up against Watney when he missed the green at the ninth, then stretched the gap to four by almost holing his approach to the next.
Westwood was bunkered on the 12th and lost it to a par three, but then halved the 13th with a birdie.
The match was Westwood’s when both he and Watney pared the next three holes.
So with two rounds to play here is the make-up of last remaining handful of matches:-
Sweden’s Peter Hanson versus American Mark Wilson
Rory McIlroy vesus Korean Bae Sang-Moon
Lee Westwood versus Martin Laird
Matt Kuchar versus Hunter Mahan
