Birdie binge sends Scheffler to semis

AUSTIN, Texas — At 24, Scottie Scheffler never gets too far ahead of himself, a remarkable trait for someone in his second year on the PGA Tour and particularly helpful in a format like the Dell Technologies Match Play.

Still, he was not oblivious to what he faced Saturday against Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter in the fourth round and then Spanish dynamo and world No. 3 Jon Rahm in the quarterfinals.

Scheffler mowed down both, making 15 birdies in 31 holes — a 5-and-4 victory over Poulter and a 3-and-1 win over Rahm — to reach the semifinals.

“I was excited to play these guys today,” Scheffler said. “I’ve watched Ian way too many times on TV just beat the crap out of us in the Ryder Cup. I just have memories of me and my dad sitting on the couch and watching this guy make putt after putt. So it was nice to get one on him, at least for me.”

The victory over Rahm sent Scheffler, a Texas graduate, into the semifinals against Matt Kuchar, who beat Jordan Spieth in the morning and Brian Harman in the afternoon.

Billy Horschel made it three Americans in the semifinals. He never led against Tommy Fleetwood until the Englishman sent his tee shot out-of-bounds on their first extra hole at the par-5 12th. Horschel will face France’s Victor Perez, who beat Sergio Garcia in 15 holes.

Scheffler keeps saying he is trending in the right direction. He has gone 41 holes without making a bogey. And he brought his best golf against two of Europe’s best in this format.

■ PGA: At Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Joel Dahmen shot 4-under 68 to tie Rafael Campos (69) atop the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship leaderboard at 10-under 206 entering the final round. Danny Willett (67) and Michael Gligic (68) were one stroke back.

UNLV product Charley Hoffman (68) was among six players at three shots back.

■ LPGA: At Carlsbad, Calif., Inbee Park opened a fivestroke lead in a bid to finally win the Kia Classic. Second in the event in 2010, 2016 and 2019, the Hall of Famer shot 3-under 69 for a 12-under 204 total at Aviara Golf Club.