With 15 of the top 16 seeds headed home after Friday, it was only Jon Rahm making it to the round of 16 at the 2021 WGC-Match Play in Austin.
Things got hot and heavy during the third round of match to see which 16 players would make it to Saturday. Sergio Garcia made it to a playoff in his group then hit the shot of the day with a walk-off hole-in-one on the fourth hole in his sudden-death extravaganza with Lee Westwood.
Rahm made it in a sudden-death playoff against his old teammate, Ryan Palmer. The two won the two-man event in New Orleans — the 2019 Zurich Classic.
There was some controversy on day three but in the end, neither of the two players involved made it to Saturday. Winless Kevin Na was out of the competition in a match that only had meaning for Dustin Johnson. It went back and forth all day. At the par three 11th, Johnson missed a seven-footer for birdie then knocked away a 12-inch putt before Na conceded it.
The incident unfolded after Johnson missed picked up his ball. Johnson then walked off and Na was not happy about it as he had not given the green light for him to pick up his ball.
As Johnson went to walk away with his ball in hand, Na called him back over to discuss his actions.
Here’s Na’s recount of the moment:
“I had about two and a half, just inside three feet for a par uphill. It’s a straight putt, and his lipped out and everybody was like ‘ah,’ and he had six inches. Obviously it’s good, but I hadn’t said anything and he whacked it. And I froze there and looked at Kenny (Harms, Na’s caddie) and I wasn’t going to say ‘that’s a penalty, you’re going to lose the hole.’ I was going to say, you know what, that was good anyway. I didn’t want to be over that putt and be thinking about that. So I called him over and said ‘hey, I’m not going to take the hole from you but I want to let you know before I said something you whacked the ball. But I’m going to give that putt to you so we’ll call it a halve and go to the next hole.”
He was then asked if there’s any lingering animosity.
“No, no, no. We took it well. Dustin was like, ‘hey, it’s your call.’ I said ‘no, it’s a half. That’s a par, It’s a par.’ Yeah.”
It did create an icy atmosphere the rest of the match. Na won it with birdies at 17 and 18 to send Johnson home.
Here’s the Saturday Round of 16 lineup:
Tommy Fleetwood (21) vs. Dylan Fritelli (64): Fritelli’s a Univesity of Texas guy and explained he’s not really an ordinary 64-seed due to his extensive course knowledge. Should come in handy against Fleetwood. Advantage: Fritelli.
Bill Horschel (32) vs. Kevin Streelman (53): Horschel has played well the past month and it’s showed. Advantage: Horschel.
Sergio Garcia (39) vs. Mackenzie Hughes (48): Garcia’s experience should get him through. Advantage: Garcia.
Robert MacIntyre (41) vs. Victor Perez (31): MacIntyre advanced by driving the green at 18 Friday and making three-footer for eagle two. Advantage: MacIntyre.
Scottie Scheffler (30) vs. Ian Poulter (60): Would you want to be up against Poulter in match play? Thought so. Advantage: Poulter.
Jon Rahm (3) vs. Erik Van Rooyen (62): Rahm is only one of top 16 to advance. Advantage: Rahm.
Bubba Watson (55) vs. Brian Harman (54): Two University of Georgia guys. Advantage: Harman.
Matt Kuchar (52) vs. Jordan Spieth (59): Kuchar a finalist in 2019, beat Kevin Kisner to advance. Local knowledge for Spieth. Advantage: Tossup.
Saturday morning winner advance to the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon to produce the Final Four for Sunday’s finale.
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
Na was right as Rahm and many other have said.
If Na handled it the way he did to get in DJs head a bit, even better.
Dj may shake things off well, but the reality is all these dumb dumbs cost him some; and this one was no different.
Imo Na whom was out of contention should have taken the point; if nothing else to protect the field. But like he said the Karma paid off.
Under the new match play rules if a player plays out of turn the other player can ask them to hit the shot again. I don’t know why they wouldn’t do the same with the ‘giving putts’ situation. Why not Just make the player put the ball back and putt it in?
Tom Edrington
Truth be known, rules of match play do not allow a concession after-the-fact…..good thing it didn’t affect the outcome….
baxter cepeda
Like I said he should have given the penalty. This is another black eye on the rules staff. Imo.
Tom Edrington
I put Na and DJ into the DOG HOUSE, they didn’t know the rule and love how DJ thought he heard Na give the putt….seriously? No penalty involved, they both would have been disqualified meaning they wouldn’t have gotten paid.
baxter cepeda
Did I mention what I think of the work the pga tour rules officials are doing?
Tom Edrington
Yes, a lot of new guys being fed into the system right now.