WGC Dell Match Play. Day 2.

Day 2 of Group Play at the  WGC Dell Match Play tournament has been completed at Austin Country Club.

That putt went the wrong way for Rory / Getty Images

Todays Results

Group 1

Jordan Spieth 5&4  over Victor Dubuisson. Justin Thomas lost 2 up to  Jamie Donaldson

Spieth 2-0, Dubuisson 1-1, Donaldson 1-1 Thomas 0-2, eliminated. Jordan in control,

Group 2

Jason Day 5&3  over Thongchai Jaidee. Graeme McDowell Halved with Paul Casey.

Day 2-0-0, Jaidee 1-1-0, Casey 0-1-1, McDowell 0-1-1. Jason in control, Thongchai Jaidee can force a playoff with a win. Paul and Graeme eliminated.

Group 3

Rory McIlroy 3&1 up over Smylie Kaufman Thorbjorn Olesen lost 3&2 to Kevin Na.

McIlroy 2-0, Na 2-0, Kaufman 0-2, Olesen 0-2 Its Rory verses Kevin, the winner will advance.

Group 4

Bubba Watson 2 Up over Emiliano Grillo. Patton Kizzire Halved  with J.B. Holmes.

Watson 1-0-1, Grillo 1-1-0, Kizzire 0-0-2, Holmes 0-1-1. Bubba needs a win over J.B. If he loses then just about anything could happen !!

Group 5

Rickie Fowler Halved with  Scott Piercy.   Byeong Hun An 2 up over Jason Dufner.

An 1-0-1, Dufner 1-1-0, Piercy 0-0-2, Fowler 0-1-1. Byeong needs a win to advance, other wise its complicated.

Group 6

Adam Scott 3&2 over Chris Wood.   Bill Haas 4&2 over Thomas Pieters.

Haas 2-0-0, Scott 1-0-1, Pieters 0-1-1, Wood 0-0-2.  Bill must get a  win or tie. Adam must defeat Bill to advance Chris and Thomas eliminated.

Group 7

Justin Rose Halved with  Anirban Lahiri.  Fabian Gomez Halved with Matt Kuchar 

Rose 1-0-1, Kuchar 1-0-1, Lahiri 0-1-1, Gomez 0-1-1. Justin and Matt face off for the win. Fabian and Anirban eliminated

Group 8

Dustin Johnson 5&4 over Kiradech Aphibarnrat.  Jimmy Walker 4&3 over Robert Streb.

Johnson 1-1-0, Walker 1-1-0, Aphibarnrat 1-1-0, Streb 1-1-0.  This one is wide open, anyone could win.

Group 9

Patrick Reed 4&3 over Matthew Fitzpatrick.  Phil Mickelson 1 up over Daniel Berger.

Reed 2-0, Mickelson 2-0, Fitzpatrick 0-2, Berger 0-2. Phil and Patrick face off, Daniel and Matthew eliminated.

Group 10

Danny Willett lost 3&2 to  Billy Horschell. Brooks Koepka 5&4 over Jaco Van Zyl.

Koepka 2-0-0 Horschel 1-1-0, Willett 0-1-1, Van Zyl 0-1-1. Lots of permutations but baically Brookes just needs to win.

Group 11

Branden Grace 4&3 over  David Lingmerth.  Russell Knox 2&1 over Chris Kirk. 

Knox 1-0-1,Grace 1-1-0, Kirk 1-1-0, Lingmerth 0-1-1. Chris needs a win to advance, the only certain thing here is David has been eliminated

Group 12

Hideki Matsuyama 4&2 over Soren Kjeldsen.  Rafa Cabrera Bello 4&3 over  Kevin Kisner.

Cabrera Bello 2-0-0, Matsuyama 1-1-0, Kisner 1-1-0, Kjeldsen 0-2-0. Raphael  will advance with a win or tie, otherwise its also complicated.

Group 13

Ryan Moore 1 up over Sergio Garcia . Lee Westwood 1 up over  Marc Leishman.

Moore 1-0-1, Garcia 1-1-0, Westwood 1-1-0, Leishman 0-1-1. Ryan needs to beat Lee, again the certain thing is Marc has been eliminated.

Group 14

Zach Johnson 8&6 over Martin Kaymer.  Marcus Fraser Halved with Shane Lowery 

Johnson 2-0-0, Kaymer 1-1-0, Lowry 0-1-1, Fraser 0-1-1. It’s between Zach and Martin, Marcus and Shane have been eliminated.

Group 15

Brandt Snedeker Halved with Danny Lee.  Charl Schwartzel 3&2 over Charlie Hoffman.

Schwartzel 2-0-0, Snedeker 1-0-1, Lee 0-1-1, Hoffman 0-2-0. It’s between Brandt and Charl, Danny and Charlie eliminated

Group 16

Louis Oosthuizen 2&1 over Bernd Wiesberger.  Andy Sullivan 3&1 over Matt Jones.

Oosthuizen 2-0, Sullivan 2-0, Wiesberger 0-2, Jones 0-2. Andy and Louis could advance, Matt and Bernd eliminated.

Valspar Championship. Charl Schwartzel in Play-Off Win

Charl Schwartzel beat Bill Haas in a play-off to win the Valspar Championship at Copperhead.

Charl Schwartzel / Getty Images

Charl and Bill were tied at the top of the Valspar Championship leaderboard after 72 holes, with -7 under par totals, forcing a play-off. Charl set the record for overcoming a five shot deficit at the start of play today to win, carding a final round -4 under par 67. Bill stuttered his way round to post a last round +1 over par 72.

Charl’s comeback is now complete, he had been playing so poorly that he considered  skipping the FedExCup Playoffs last year;

“I thought about just saying let’s just start over, let’s just get your game in the right shape and then make this year a good year, you know.”

“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it was but I needed confidence.”

” Winning in South Africa helped because there you’re hitting good shots under pressure to win. That gets your confidence up.”

“All over it’s a really good boost to going back and starting the first year, first major of the year. I mean it’s a really exciting week and always look forward to it.”

In the end it was a poor bunker shot on the first play-off hole that sunk Bill Haas;

“That bunker shot, a 12 handicapper could have done that, that was pretty bad.”

“I made some nice par saves and grinding my butt off.”

” I was one putt away from winning and so you got to take the positives and say that you can do it.”

“I hit a great iron at seventeen, a decent iron at eighteen. I thought I made the putt to win.”

“I’m not going to say that I gave it to him but I certainly could have shot better than one over today I think.”

Ryan Moore claimed third place at -5 under par for the competition, a last round of even par 71 not good enough to contend.

Of note was the performance of Amateur player Lee McCoy, he was the real McCoy on the course shooting a final round -2 under par 69, and also the real McCoy at Copperhead, sporting a full head of ginger hair. The Innisbrook resident captured fourth place on his own at -4 under par.

Jordan Spieth continues with his woes, +2 over par 73 today to finish in a tie for 18th place.

Tshwane Open. Schwartzel Supreme.

Charl Schwartzel reigned supreme in winning the Tshwane Open in South Africa.

Charl Schwartzel / Getty Images

Charl carded a -7 under par 63, which included a couple of bogey’s, to win the Tshwane Open in a canter, an eight shot victory, with a total of -16 under par, and claim his second title of the season.

He said great putting was the key, and he is really excited for the rest of the season;

“It’s felt like I’ve been playing really, really well this week.”

“It’s just frustrating when you don’t putt very well and you don’t convert, and to make the putts when it counts, that’s even more satisfying.”

“In the first three rounds I gave myself so many chances. If I had the stroke I had today, it probably would have been my best tournament ever.”

“Everything is sort of falling into place. I’ve worked really hard leading up to this and it’s just been feeling good, so everything has got some really good signs, so I’m excited.”

For the record, Jeff Winther, from Denmark, finished in second place, those eight shots adrift, a last round -6 under 64 lifting him up the leaderboard.

Third place  went to Anthony Michael, a sad final round of even par 70, giving him a -6 under par total, a massive ten shots off the pace after leading the tournament at one stage.

Tshwane Open. Schwaetzel Has 54 Hole Lead.

Charl Schwartzel holds the 54 hole lead at the Tshwane Open in South Africa.

Charl Schwartzel / Getty Images

Charl shot -4 under par 66 in the third round of the Tshwane Open, and will take a one shot lead into the final round tomorrow with a -9 under par total.

He said it was nice to be playing well, and at home, especially being in contention once again;

“In a way it’s pleasing to me to see that the consistency of the long game is coming back and it’s just nice to be in contention.”

“I hit the ball really well. I think I only missed two greens and I gave myself a lot of chances for birdie.”

“It’s very close up there and it’s still going to come down to tomorrow and who actually just shoots the best score.”

“That’s what it’s going to be so I’m looking forward to it.” 

“I love playing at home on golf courses I’m familiar with, in front of familiar faces. We don’t get to do that very often, so it’s nice.”

Zander Lombard holds second place at -7 under par, he carded a splendid bogey free-7 under par 63 which put him firmly in contention. Good putting was the key for him today;

“I just had a great round.”

“I put together some solid putts and kept it in the right places again. I managed to keep the bogeys off the card and really put a solid score together.”

It’s an all South African top three as Haydn Porteous and Anthony Michael share third place, both at -6 under par for the tournament. Haydn -2 under 68 today, Anthony slipped back with a poor effort of +1 over par 71.

Nearest non South African is the wonderfully named Toby Tree, from England, but he is back at -4 under, and T5 with Dean Burmester.

Charl is the form horse in this race, and I expect him to go on and win.

Alfred Dunhill Championship. Charl the Champion.

Charl Schwartzel emerged as the Champion at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club in South Africa.

Charl Schwartzel / Getty Images

Charl cruised to a four shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship with a -2 under par 70 final round giving him a total of -15 under par. he becomes the first South African to win four official European Tour titles at the same event, making him the king of Leopard Creek Country Club. He would like to play a Major here;

“I wish we could play some Majors here. It’s definitely my favourite place, I love coming here and the golf course.”

“It feels good, the way I’ve played the last few years, I’ve been down in quite a slump, I didn’t really see myself coming out and winning.”

“But we’ve put in so much hard work in the last 18 months and it’s frustrating when week-in, week-out you’re playing and it feels like it’s never going to turn.”

“I guess there’s no better fit than for it to turn around here. This place has treated me really well. I got my first win here and now my tenth so I think it’s pretty fitting.”

“It turned on the back nine. I felt more comfortable today.”

“My chipping was really fantastic on the weekend and that’s what got it going. I made birdie on 11 and 13 and 14.”

“I knew I was going to have to shoot at least two or three under on the back nine to give myself a good chance of winning and I’m very happy with that.”

“Once I saw the board on 16 then I felt comfortable and I knew it was up to me not to make any mistakes.”

Grégory Bourdy finished in second place, at -11 under par, a good final round -4 under par 68 saw him climb up the leaderboard.

Another Frenchman came in third, Benjamine Herbert at -10 under par, he could only managed a last round of even par 72.

Low round of the day went Jaco Van Zyl, -8 under par 64, he finished T8 at -7 under.

Alfred Dunhill Championship. Schwartzel Sails On.

Charl Schwartzel sails on in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopards Creek Country Club in South Africa.

Charl Schwartzel watched by the Leopard / Getty Images

Charl will take a three shot lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship after his third round -2 under par 70 gave him a -13 under par tournament total.

Charl, the home town favorite, is already a three-time winner of this event, but admitted he struggled a bit today, as he tries to become the first South African to win the same official European Tour event four times;

“I felt really uncomfortable to be honest, I struggled.”

“As good as the long game was the first few days, it was as bad today and it made me feel very uncomfortable.”

“If I can have some bad rounds still under par, out of my experience, that’s how you compete in tournaments and even win tournaments.”

“On the positive side of it, I’ve shot a lot worse scores playing like this and that means there is an improvement in my game.”

“It can’t be far away. It has to be feelings, I’m just feeling very, very uncomfortable so if I can go and find something that can trigger me I think I’ll sleep a little better.”

“I just would like to play some decent golf. If someone shoots a low score and beats me then so be it. I just want to play some decent golf myself, I’ve been longing for it for a while.”

Sharing second place, at -10 under par is European Tour rookie Sebastien Gros, he fired a third round -9 under 63, and he is tied with countryman Benjamine Herbert, both players are from France. Benjamine carded -4 under 68.

At -8 under, fourth place belongs to Dylan Frittelli, another South African, who best finish to date is  a tie for tenth place at last season’s Tshwane Open. He should be able to improve on that result here, he posted a third round -6 under 66 today.

 

 

Alfred Dunhill Championship. Charl Schwartzel Has 36 Hole Lead.

Home town boy Charl Schwartzel has the 36 hole lead in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club in South Africa.

Charl Schwartzel / Getty Images

Charl carded a second round -5 under par 67 in the Alfred Dunhill Championship to give him a -11 under par tournament total, and a fabulous five shot lead over the field at the half-way stage of the competition. He came out early in the morning to finish the first round and birdied the final hole, and just carried on from there.

Charl  is a three-time winner here, and really likes this course, set on the edge of the Kruger National Park, and said if he could make some putts he could score even better;

“It’s definitely my favourite place to come and play.”

“Every year I’ve come back here, as soon as I arrive I get that real comfort feeling, a peaceful feeling and it is to do with the surroundings, the nature.”

“It’s a place I normally go to, to relax, so I’m playing in a very relaxed environment.”

“On top of that the golf course also suits my eye really well. The last ten years I’ve aimed at the same trees on every hole at the end of the fairway.”

“The last few weeks I’ve been playing well and it’s nice that a few things are falling into place a little better this week.”

“Since Turkey I’ve felt like my long game has been really good and I’ve given myself a lot of chances.”

“That’s one part of the game and if I make some putts I can score better.”

Sharing second place, at -6 under par, are; Benjamin Hebert, Joost Luiten, Pablo Martin Benavides and Richard Sterne.

First round leader Christiaan Basson slipped back today, a sad second round of +4 over par 76 left sharing ninth position at -4 under par.

Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Championship winner, missed the cut here, two rounds of over par leading to his downfall. Last year he made every cut, writing eight on his card at the par three 7th here did not help his cause.