Kiradech reaches last 16 at WGC Match Play
Thai star overwhelms Rahm 4 & 3 to set up last-16 clash with Howell, Spieth and McIlroy out
>> AUSTIN: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat advanced comfortably into the round of 16 at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship on Friday.
Kiradech cruised to a 4 & 3 victory over world No.3 Jon Rahm of Spain to make it three wins out of three group matches, only one of seven players in the 64-man field to achieve a 100 percent record at the Austin Country Club.
In the last-16 round, the 28-yearold Kiradech will face American Charles Howell III, who like him also enjoyed three wins in his group, this morning (Thai time).
Rahm, l ast year’s runner-up, offered little resistance as Kiradech sped to a 3-up lead at the turn. The big Thai sank a 20-foot birdie putt on 14 to go 4-up and then closed out the match at the next hole with a par to qualify for the round of 16 for the first time.
“I just kept the ball in play. To be honest, I don’t think Jon was playing his best game. I know it’s not the best day for him. So, it’s all about friendship here. I’m playing great golf. And a lot of confidence, comfortable with the swing,” said Kiradech, who finished tied fifth at the WGC-Mexico Championship earlier this month.
With winds swirling during the third day, the former Asian Tour No.1 kept the mistakes off his card.
“When the wind picks up, it’s really tough. I think some greens, they put some water on it, so it makes easier for the players,” said Kiradech, who notched earlier wins over Chez Reavie and Keegan Bradley.
Meanwhile, world No.4 Jordan Spieth and seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy were ousted from the championship with defeats in final group matches on Friday.
US 18th seed Brian Harman never trailed in dispatching McIlroy 5 & 3 and capturing his group with two wins and a draw.
Spieth was knocked out by US Ryder Cup partner Patrick Reed, who won their much anticipated match 2 & 1.
Reed, ranked 23rd in the world, never trailed and rolled in a 40-foot putt from off the 17th green to end Spieth’s hopes of a first title of 2018.
Sergio Garcia, tuning up for his Masters title defence at Augusta National, rallied from 2 down through 11 holes to beat rising US star Xander Schauffele 3 & 1 and reach the last 16.
“Xander played unbelievable on the front nine, tricky conditions, and he kept making good putt after good putt on me,” Garcia said. “So I was just hoping to stay in it and give myself some chances as soon as he gave me a little opening on 12.
“And then I was able to make a great birdie on 13, 15 and 16,” added Garcia, who next faces American Kyle Stanley.
Thomas pummelled Italian Francesco Molinari 7 & 5 to set up a meeting with South Korean Kim Si-Woo — a 2-up winner over Webb Simpson.
McIlroy, managed only two birdies in his final competitive tune-up for the Masters, the only major title the Northern Ireland star needs to complete a career Grand Slam.
“Rory did not play his best golf today but I played extremely well,” said Harman, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“I’m proud of the way I came out. Rory is an intimidating guy. He hits it a mile. I had this one [match] circled this week and I’m glad I came out and performed pretty well,” added Harman, who set up a meeting with two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson.
Watson birdied the last two holes to halve his match with 64th-seeded Julian Suri.
Other top players who didn’t make it past group play included former world No.1 Jason Day and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen beat Day 2 up, then won his group in a play-off against Jason Dufner with a par at the first hole.
American Charles Howell rolled unbeaten to his group crown by downing Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira 2 & 1.
That eliminated Mickelson, seeded 18th, who had kept his hopes alive by edging Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello 1 up.
RESULTS (x denotes seed)
Final group-stage matches Group 1: Kevin Kisner (USA x32) bt Dustin Johnson (USA x1) 4 & 3; Adam Hadwin (CAN x38) and Bernd Wiesberger (AUT x52) halved Group 2: Justin Thomas (USA x2) bt Francesco Molinari (ITA x21) 7 & 5; Patton Kizzire (USA x48) bt Luke List (USA x60) 4 & 2
Group 3: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA x28) bt Jon Rahm (ESP x3) 4 & 3; Chez Reavie (USA x43) and Keegan Bradley (USA x63) halved Group 4: Patrick Reed (USA x19) bt Jordan Spieth (USA x4) 2 & 1; Charl Schwartzel (RSA x49) bt Li Hao Tong (CHN x34) 3 & 2
Group 5: Patrick Cantlay (USA x30) bt Hideki Matsuyama (JPN x5) 4 & ; Cameron Smith (AUS x46) and Yusaku Miyazato (JPN x53) halved Group 6: Brian Harman (USA x18) bt Rory McIlroy (NIR x6) 5 & 3; Peter Uihlein (USA x57) bt Jhonattan Vegas (VEN x44) 4 & 3
Group 7: Sergio Garcia (ESP x7) bt Xander Schauffele (USA x20) 3 & 1; Dylan Frittelli (RSA x41) bt Shubhankar Sharma (IND x62) 1 up Group 8: Jason Dufner (USA x42) bt James Hahn (USA x56) 3 & 2; Louis Oosthuizen (RSA x25) bt Jason Day (AUS x8) 2 up (Oosthuizen wins group over Dufner with par on first play-off hole)
Group 9: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG x9) bt Daniel Berger (USA x26) 2 & 1; Ian Poulter (ENG x58) bt Kevin Chappell (USA x33) concession, back injury
Group 10: Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG x31) bt Paul Casey (ENG x10) 3 & 2; Kyle Stanley (USA x45) bt Russell Henley (USA x51) 1 up (Stanley wins group over Casey with birdie on second play-off hole)
Group 11: Bubba Watson (USA x35) and Julian Suri (USA x64) halved; Marc Leishman (USA x11) and Branden Grace (RSA x23) halved Group 12: Charley Hoffman (USA x22) bt Tyrrell Hatton (ENG x12) 3 & 2; Brendan Steele (USA x36) bt Alexander Levy (FRA x55) 3 & 1 (Hatton wins group over Steele with birdie on first playoff hole)
Group 13: Alex Noren (SWE x13) bt Tony Finau (USA x29) 1 up; Thomas Pieters (BEL x39) and Kevin Na (USA x61) halved
Group 14: Phil Mickelson (USA x14) bt Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP x17) 1 up; Charles Howell (USA x59) bt Satoshi Kodaira (JPN x40) 2 & 1 Group 15: Kim Si-woo (KOR x50) bt Webb Simpson (USA x37) 2 up; Gary Woodland (USA x24) bt Pat Perez (USA x15) 1 up
Group 16: Matt Kuchar (USA x16) bt Ross Fisher (ENG x27) 6 & 4; Yuta Ikeda (JPN x47) and Zach Johnson (USA x54) halved KNOCKOUT ROUND PAIRINGS Bubba Watson (USA x35) v Brian Harman (USA x18); Charles Howell (USA x59) v Kiradech
Aphibarnrat (THA x28); Kyle Stanley (USA x45) v Sergio Garcia (ESP x7); Kim Si-Woo (KOR x50) v Justin Thomas (USA x2); Tyrrell Hatton (ENG x12) v Cameron Smith (AUS x46); Alex Noren (SWE x13) v Patrick Reed (USA x19); Ian Poulter (ENG x58) v Louis Oosthuizen (RSA x25); Matt Kuchar (USA x16) v Kevin Kisner (USA x32)