The WGC-Dell Match Play third round saw plenty of big name go through to the weekend, including Compleat Golfer’s Playing Editor Louis Oosthuizen.
The Mossel Bay local faced off against Englishman Andy Sullivan, with both players going unbeaten into the last round of the group stages.
Oosthuizen played solid golf through the round and his consistency earned a 4&2 win, courtesy of a eight-hole run of pars that left Sullivan playing catchup.
‘I played really solid. Didn’t make a lot of birdies. I had a lot of putts shave the edges. But I gave myself really good opportunities and I put pressure the whole time on Andy coming in. It was just in my favor today,’ said the 2010 Open Champion.
Charl Schwartzel went down 5&3 to Brandt Snedeker after the American fired through the back nine. Schwartzel had an early 2up advantage, but could not find the extra gear on the stretch.
‘That’s exactly what I needed,’ said Snedeker. ‘Got down early, which kind of fired me up. Made some great birdies here on the back nine. I said, ‘I’m going to finish this match up. Be aggressive, make some birdies. Don’t sit around and wait and let Charl hang around.’ Did a great job of doing that.’
Fortune didn’t smile on Branden Grace in a playoff with Chris Kirk, which came after both players finished the group stages tied for points. On the first extra hole Grace found a fairway bunker, flew the green with his approach, and went on to make a bogey.
Kirk was glad to take the playoff with a two-putt par and added: ‘I feel like I played some really solid golf over the last few days. Definitely caught a break there in the playoff with him making a bogey. But that’s the way it goes.’
Jaco van Zyl will take plenty away from his 2&1 victory over Billy Horschel, although neither player moved on to the next stage of the tournament. The recent Eye of Africa PGA Championship winner holed out for eagle at the 16th and sealed the match with an approach to one foot at the par-three 17th.
Tournament favourites Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth all made the weekend, along with Zach and Dustin Johnson.
