Johnson, Rahm continue to shine
Stroud grabs lead in Puerto Rico
AUSTIN, Texas — Dustin Johnson answered a rare challenge and Jon Rahm delivered another early knockout Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Dell Technologies Match Play, staying on track for a potential showdown between No.
1 in the world and golf’s brightest new star.
Johnson has looked so unbeatable this week that he led all 71 holes he had played until he lost a 3-up lead at the turn and was all square in his quarterfinal match when Alex Noren of Sweden holed a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 12.
Johnson answered with three birdies in four holes and won, 3 and 2.
Rahm was so dominant Saturday he played only 27 holes in
two matches, and none of his last three matches has gone beyond the 14th hole. After a 6-and-4 victory over Charles Howell III in the morning fourth round, he was even better in a 7-and-5 victory over Soren Kjeldsen.
“The golf I’ve played the last three matches really has been very impressive, even to myself,” he said.
Rahm faces a semifinal match this morning against Bill Haas, who ended Phil Mickelson’s hopes with a 2-and-1 victory in the quarterfinals. Mickelson had advanced to the quarters for the first time in 13 years with a victory against Marc Leishman.
Mickelson never trailed in any match until he fell behind on the first hole to Haas, and he never led when the match ended on the 17th hole.
“I struggled making the putts that I have been making all week,” Mickelson said. “That seemed to me to be the difference.”
Johnson, going after a third straight PGA Tour title, faces tournament surprise Hideko Tanihara of Japan.
Tanihara began the week by beating Jordan Spieth. On Saturday, he took down Paul Casey with two late birdies in the morning, and then Ross Fisher, 4 and 2, to reach the semifinals.
“He looks unbeatable,” Tanihara said. “I hope he doesn’t feel good tomorrow, so maybe I have a chance.”
PUERTO RICO OPEN: In Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, Chris Stroud birdied his final hole Saturday to cap off a 5-under 67 and take a one-shot lead in the Puerto Rico Open as he goes for his first PGA Tour victory.
One shot behind was a pair of past PGA Tour winners, Bill Lunde and D.A. Points, who each shot 69.
Stroud was at 15-under 201 and has more than just Lunde and Points to worry about. Ten players were within three shots of the lead.