The Mercury News Weekend

Spieth, Reed set up showdown at Match Play

- By The Associated Press

Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed enjoy few things more than trying to beat each other, and that’s when they are partners. The stakes are even higher in the Dell Technologi­es Match Play. Win or go home. Spieth and Reed did their part Thursday by winning their matches for a second straight day to set up a showdown on the skirts of Hill Country in Austin, Texas. They play today to determine who wins the group and advances to the weekend of this World Golf Championsh­ip.

Reed fired the first shot when asked what made Spieth a good opponent in match play.

“I don’t know. My back still hurts from the last Ryder Cup,” he said with a laugh, alluding to the way he carried Spieth in their partnershi­p at Hazeltine to a 2-1-1 record in team play during a rare American victory.

Spieth never trailed against Li Haotong and pulled away to win 4 and 2.

Right behind was Reed in his match against Charl Schwartzel, and the South African was 2 up at the turn until Reed won the next two holes to set up a tight finish. Schwartzel stayed 1 down when he missed a 5-foot par putt on the 17th. Needing a birdie on the 18th to halve, Schwartzel could only watch as Reed hit a wedge that nearly went in and stopped a few inches away.

Reed and Spieth are 7-2-2 as partners in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup.

In other matches between undefeated players, Sergio Garcia takes on Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau plays Alex Noren, and Justin Thomas takes on Francesco Molinari.

Noren had another easy time, beating Thomas Pieters in 14 holes and won for the sixth time in his past seven matches. He faces Finau, who dispatched Kevin Na to win his second straight match.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson will effectivel­y play a practice round today. A year af- ter the world’s No. 1 player couldn’t be beaten, Johnson couldn’t beat anybody. He lost to Bernd Wiesberger on Wednesday and fell behind early in a 4-and-3 loss to Adam Hadwin on Thursday.

Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson still have life.

McIlroy had an easy time beating Jhonattan Vegas, while Brian Harman knocked out Peter Uihlein in the other match in their group. Harman will win the group if he beats McIlroy on Friday; McIlroy has to win to have any chance of making it to the weekend.

Mickelson, who lost to Charles Howell III in the opening round, rallied from 4 down after eight holes and won the last three holes to beat Satoshi Kodaira. BAD DAY FOR VETERAN DAVIES » Laura Davies had a nightmare round days after contending for a title at age 54 as Caroline Hedwall and Jackie Stoelting topped the Kia Classic in Carlsbad. Davies shot a 10- over 82 at rainy Aviara Golf Club four days after tying for second behind Inbee Park in the Founders Cup and five days after shooting a 9-under 63 in the Phoenix event. Hedwall and Stoelting, both winless on the LPGA Tour, opened at 6-under 66 in the final event before the major ANA Inspiratio­n next week at Mission Hills. ROMO STRUGGLES IN PGA TOUR DEBUT » Tony Romo settled down after a ner- vous start, only to come undone on the back nine in his PGA Tour debut. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterbac­k played a fourhole stretch in a 5 over on the back nine that led to a 5- over 77 in the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championsh­ip in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. He was 14 shots behind Brice Garnett, who had a 63 to lead by one shot.

Romo, who now works as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports, received a sponsor’s exemption to the tournament. He is playing as an amateur.

Garnett played bogeyfree, opening with a 30 on the back nine and building a one-shot lead over Corey Conners of Canada.

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