AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) – The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play is a physical as well as a cerebral challenge.
Those who make it to the last four have already played more competitive golf (five rounds) than they would in a typical PGA Tour tournament. And there are two more rounds to go.
Scottie Scheffler learned this lesson last year on his way to the finals.
Scheffler, who will face Dustin Johnson in the semifinals on Sunday, said, “I think I had a little bit better of a rhythm in the afternoon, and also in the beginning of the week.” “Last year, I was really hoping to have a good start to the week.
I may have worked a little too hard the week before out here, so this year I’ve taken it a lot easier.”
This year’s event, Scheffler noted, has been more of a mental challenge than last year’s, when he lost in the finals to Billy Horschel. He needed six extra holes in a playoff over Matt Fitzpatrick on Friday to qualify for the Sweet 16, then he lost his pool play match on Day 2 against Tommy Fleetwood. He admitted that it had been a challenge, but not physically. “I feel rested and ready to go for tomorrow,” he added.
Horschel was defeated 1 up by Scheffler in his Sweet 16 encounter. Then, in the quarterfinals, he defeated Seamus Power, 3 and 2, with a walk-off chip-in to get to the last four.
