The wrap from Day 3 at the WGC-Match Play
Quote of the day - Jon Rahm
"I think it made it a little more special or emotional for both of us. Both really wanted to win bad, not just for us, but for golf in Spain in general. I think that made it a little more fun for us," Rahm told Steve Sands of the Golf Channel on his match with countryman Sergio Garcia.
Biggest comeback - Matthew Fitzpatrick
The young Englishman was 2-down after 13 holes to Justin Thomas, but birdied the next four to win the match 2&1 over Thomas. Fitzpatrick would eventually lose to Kevin Na in a playoff.
Biggest disappointment - Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton needed to just halve his match Friday with Rafa Cabrera Bello to win the group; instead he lost 2&1 and faced a three-man playoff. Hatton was penalized two strokes for failing to return his ball to the original position, after he accidentally moved the ball. The double-bogey six ended his day and week.
Second fiddle - Zach Johnson
Nothing can challenge Bill Haas' pitch-in for par to stay alive against K.T. Kim, but Zach Johnson hit this gorgeous tee shot onto the green. Johnson made birdie and won his match 1-up to advance to the weekend.
This week's Carl Spackler - Hideto Tanihara
Bill Murray's character from "Caddyshack" may have been the original Cinderella story, but Tanihara is doing it for real this week at Austin Country Club. The 60th-ranked golfer in the world went 2-0-1 to win the group.
Round | Opponent | Score | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Match 1 | Jordan Spieth | 4&2 | Doubled No. 14 for only hole lost |
Match 2 | Ryan Moore | Halved | Was 1-up with two holes remaining |
Match 3 | Yuta Ikeda | 3&1 | Never trailed in the match |
Stat to date - Sum 41 for Phil Mickelson
Mickelson has led in 41 of the 42 holes he's played this week, which is decent.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)