Branden Grace was sent packing after halving his final group-stage match at the WGC-Dell Match Play, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Grace entered the final round of the group stage needing a lifeline from Julian Suri and for 35 of 36 holes, it looked like the improbable would play out at Austin Country Club.
The South African played out a ding-dong battle which went to the last hole while the unfancied Suri arrived at the last tee 1 up over Bubba Watson.
It was all drama as Grace hit his approach on the last to under three feet with his Presidents Cup colleague nine feet away. The Australian ended any and all speculation by draining the putt to deny Grace a potential place in the playoffs. Grace sank his birdie putt as consolation.
Playing behind them, it was Suri who arrived at the last with the advantage over the unbeaten Watson. The left-hander was handed the initiative when Suri found the greenside bunker off the tee. When he failed to get up and down, Watson sealed his place in the next round with a birdie from nine feet.
Earlier, Grace birdied two of the first five holes to get back on level terms. The all-action affair had a number of twists and turns to take before the firework ending. Grace was 1 down after a bogey at the 4th and then all square after sinking a 27 footer on the 9th.
Leishman birdied the 10th to retake his lead but Grace drew level once more with a birdie of his own at the 14th. The lead flip-flopped again at the next with the Australian winning the hole before a two at the 17th sent the match down the last, a hole that was halved in three with both battlers heading home.
Bubba was 2-down with 2 to play @DellMatchPlay.
He needed to win the next two holes to advance.
Buckle up. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/F0xggy00tP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2018
