Johnson vs Johnson in KO stage

3-way tie for lead in Puerto Rico Open

AUSTIN, Texas, March 25, (RTRS): It will be Johnson v Johnson as world number one Dustin takes on double major champion Zach in a round-of-16 clash at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas on Saturday.

And five-times major champion Phil Mickelson will meet in-form Australian Marc Leishman as the World Golf Championships event enters the knockout phase after completing the round-robin phase at Austin Country Club.

Big-hitting Dustin Johnson emerged with a perfect 3-0-0 record, wrapping up the group phase with a 5&3 shellacking of fellow American Jimmy Walker on Friday.

He said he fancied his chances of beating namesake and compatriot Zach, not because of the world rankings but because of his form.

“No matter what ranking I am, I feel I should win,” he told reporters. “I feel like I’ve got a bit of an advantage, just because I’m playing so well.

Zach Johnson, meanwhile, said he would relish the challenge of taking on the game’s hottest player.

Mickelson finished group play in style at 3-0-0 with a 6&5 thumping of fellow American J.B. Holmes.

Leishman was given a scare before winning his group in a three-way playoff with Englishman Lee Westwood and American Pat Perez after they all finished with the same 2-1-0 record in their group.

Asked for his thoughts about facing Mickelson, known for his light-hearted trash talking, the laid-back Leishman sounded unfazed.

Among other round-of-16 match-ups will be Spaniard Jon Rahm versus American Charles Howell III, Englishman Paul Casey against Japan’s Hideto Tanihara and American Bubba Watson against Englishman Ross Fisher.

Rahm won his group by beating countryman Sergio Garcia 6&4.

Howell topped his group after an eventful three-way playoff with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

Hatton was eliminated at the first extra hole after incurring a two-stroke penalty for putting without replacing his ball after he had caused it to move fractionally. Howell finally emerged victorious four holes later.

The round-of-16 on Saturday morning will be followed immediately afterwards by the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, D.A. Points and Bill Lunde were locked in a three-way tie for the lead