DARE TO DREAM... IT’S RORY v TIGER
WHEN he first started playing the game, Rory Mcilroy used to dream of the day he would be good enough to take on Tiger Woods.
This morning they finally go head to head for the first time in competition after each won his group to reach the last 16 of the WGC-Match Play Championship in Austin, Texas.
While Mcilroy made it through at a canter, including a comfortable 4& 2 victory over Matt Fitzpatrick yesterday, Woods needed a helping hand and another example of his remarkable powers of recovery.
After eight holes he was two down in a match he had to win against fellow American Patrick Cantlay. He also needed Aaron Wise to beat Brandt snedeker and there was little to choose between the pair at that stage. From those unpromising circumstances Woods, as so often, began to make things happen, while Wise was beating snedeker 6&4.
it began for Tiger with a win at the ninth, before one at the parthree 11th that changed the course of the game. Cantlay was just 8ft away with his tee shot but the hole became the size of a thimble after Woods holed from three times that length. Cantlay duly missed. All square.
Woods birdied the 12th to go one up before one of those moments that illustrate why he draws a gallery so much bigger than anyone else. At the par-four 13th his second shot from 100 yards bounced 8ft behind the flag before spinning back into the hole for an eagle two. Then he holed from 20ft to birdie the 14th. He was five under for his last four holes, he was three up and his delight was clear as he sent the thousands watching into raptures with a trademark salute.
Two holes later it was all over, for a 4&2 success. The match-up with Rory was on.
‘i feel very fortunate to have made my way through because it wasn’t in my hands at the start of the day,’ said Tiger. ‘i’m obviously pleased with the way i closed out my match, and it’s going to be a lot of fun taking on Rory for the first time in competition. We’ve played a few friendly matches over the years and i am sure that we will both be ready for it.’
Mcilroy certainly will be after winning his match with something to spare to continue his extraordinary run of form, including victory at the Players Championship and five other top- six finishes in his six other starts.
Henrik stenson shrugged off his slow start to the season with a brilliant display to see off Jim Furyk and set up a showdown with Dane Lucas Bjerregaard.
England’s Tyrell Hatton also won through with a 3&1 victory over Lee Westwood and now meets Matt Kuchar.