Justin Thomas reaches semis of Match Play after two wins

AUSTIN, TEXAS» Justin Thomas won two matches Saturday to reach the semifinals of the Dell Technologies Match Play.

One more, and he gets to No. 1 in the world. Thomas made quick work of Si Woo Kim in the morning, then trailed for the first time all week against Kyle Stanley — just not for long. Thomas won three straight holes to start the back nine, made a 6-foot par putt to stay in control and closed out Stanley 2-and-1.

Dustin Johnson didn’t win a match this week and will not get any world ranking points. That means Thomas only has to reach the championship match Sunday to become the seventh American to reach No. 1.

In his way was Bubba Watson, who is back to playing like a two-time Masters champion.

“It will and would be a great accomplishment,” Thomas said. “But I’m just worried about trying to beat Bubba Watson tomorrow.”

Watson made all the key putts in a battle of Georgia southpaws when he beat Brian Harman in the morning, then he turned a tight match into a runaway against Kiradech Aphibarnrat by winning five of six holes on the back nine for a 5-and-3 victory.

That put Watson, who won last month at Riviera, in the semifinals for the first time since his Match Play debut in 2011. Tournament wrapup. Cristie Kerr blew a five-stroke lead in the Kia Classic to set up a final-round showdown. A day after shooting an 8-under 64 to open a big lead, Kerr had a 75 to drop a stroke behind Lizette Salas, Eun-hee Ji and In-kyung Kim. Kerr was tied with Caroline Hedwall, Wei-ling Hsu and Cindy Lacrosse. Ji had a 67 to match Salas (69) and Kim (69) at 11-under 205. … Steve Stricker moved into position for his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory, shooting a 3-underpar 69 to take a one-stroke lead over Jeff Sluman and Joe Durant. Stricker had a 7-under 137 total. … Brice Garnett bogeyed three of the final six holes for a 3-under 69 and 16-under 200 total in the PGA Tour’s Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship. He leads Corey Conners (67) by two strokes. … Julian Etulain shot a third-round 66 to move to 15under 198 for a five-stroke lead at the Web.com Tour’s Chitimacha Louisiana Open.