Rory McIlroy is through to the semi-finals of the WGC-Dell World Matchplay after defeating Xander Schauffele.
McIlroy beat the American with a narrow 1-up win as he continued his good form ahead of next months Masters at Augusta. He also revealed his desire to add a second WGC Matchplay title to his trophy cabinet after emerging victorious back in 2015.
The Northern-Irishman, who is playing with different equipment this week including a new putter, said this particular tournament is one of the hardest to win on the professional circuit.
READ MORE: Cameron Young told to "say sorry" after playing fluke golf shot at WGC-Dell match play
"I think winning the Match Play is always a massive accomplishment because of what you have to go through,” declared McIlroy.
“It’s seven rounds and, especially this week, I feel like a lot of my matches have been really, really close, so to be able to pull them out when I’ve needed to has been very gratifying.
“Maybe there’s a higher sense of satisfaction when you get through on Sunday night and you’re able to win. I feel like it’s maybe just more of an achievement mentally to do it rather than just winning a four-round stroke-play event.”
The only time McIlroy lead during the round was when it mattered, the final hole when he sunk a 12-foot birdie. With is he booked his semi-final place where he'll face Cameron Young. Young defeated Kurt Kitiyama 1-up.
Defending champion and world number 1 Scottie Scheffler came back from three down in his tie against Jason Day. Day had began strongly with three birdoes and an eagle in his first six holes but Scheffler roared back with impressive birdies on the ninth and twelfth.
It’s not like I was playing bad,” said Scheffler, who will play his good friend Sam Burns, who beat Mackenzie Hughes 3&2, in the semi-finals.
“I was playing pretty solid. There’s not much you can do. So I was like, ‘hey man, if you’re going to do that then I tip my cap to you, that’s just good golf and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
“If he was to keep it up for the whole round, I would just say the same thing, just take my hat off, shake hands, and say great job. Fortunately for me, he wasn’t able to do that.”
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