Johnson on course to make history

WORLD No.1 Dustin Johnson remained on course to create history as he reached the final of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play yesterday.

Johnson, who is looking to become the first player to have won all four World Golf Championship events, beat Japan’s Hideto Tanihara by one hole to set up a mouthwatering showdown with Spain’s Jon Rahm at Austin Country Club.

Rahm beat American Bill Haas 3&2 in their semi-final and will become the youngest ever winner of a WGC event if he can overcome Johnson in the 18-hole final.

There was never more than one hole between Rahm and Haas until the former followed a birdie on the 13th with another on the 15th, before sealing victory by getting up and down from a greenside bunker on the par-five 16th.

Johnson had appeared in command against Tanihara when he reduced the par-five sixth to a drive and an eight iron to set up an eagle, before moving further ahead with a birdie on the next.

Tanihara reduced his deficit to a single hole before losing the 12th after three-putting it for par, but birdied the next two holes to get back to all square.

Johnson had not been taken to the 17th hole all week, but the US Open champion produced a superb tee shot to set up a birdie from six feet to regain the lead, before scrambling a par on the 18th after Tanihara had missed from 12 feet to force extra holes.