Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen advanced to the round of 16 on a day when all three South Africans won in the WGC-Dell Tech Match Play at Austin Country Club.
Justin Harding completed his tournament with his second victory – a 2-up win over Luke List – but with Rory McIlroy winning 4&2 over Matt Fitzpatrick, his run in Texas was halted.
The victory may prove to be crucial, with just one more event left before the world’s top 50 are handed a place in The Masters. Harding holed out for eagle from 105 yards at the ninth and then rode the momentum on the back nine with three more birdies to hold off List, who birdied two of his last three holes before conceding the 18.
The Stellenbosch GC star never trailed on Friday as he awaits to see Monday’s Official World Golf Rankings.
Two players already assured of their Augusta participation are Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. Both were seeking a place in the knockout round, but only one had his destiny in his own hands.
With victories over Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama, the one-time PGA TOUR winner needed a tie or win against Chez Reavie to progress.
Grace would ensure a perfect 3-0 record thanks to birdies at 12 and 16 that would move him 2-up each time. This year’s run is the first time Grace has moved beyond the group stage since 2015.
He faces Sergio Garcia, who lost to Patrick Reed on Friday, but had done enough in Saturday morning’s action.
Countryman Oosthuizen did not have the luxury of needing only to secure his result. He needed winless Byeong-Hun An to scupper American Kyle Stanley’s plans.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Seven birdies helped An to a 6&5 win.
That result meant the winner of Oosthuizen vs Tommy Fleetwood would advance.
Oosthuizen had an eight-hole stretch that included one eagle and six birdies as he flipped the match on Fleetwood. A 15-foot birdie putt at the sixth started the hot stretch that also included a 25-foot eagle putt at the 12th.
‘You know, I got on the first hole and had a little ten-foot putt and I’ve been struggling this week get those length putts on line. And I found something on that stroke and just started rolling the ball beautiful,’ said Oosthuizen.
‘I started making putts, I started seeing the lines better because I was confident on my lines. And not just the putter, I was hitting it pretty decent, as well. And then I felt bad for Tommy in a sense because I was making everything. I think I was 8 or 9-under, I’m not sure.’
The South African, whose place in the last 16 is a rare feat for a player losing match one, faces Presidents Cup teammate Marc Leishman in the next round.
‘That will be a good match. Marc is playing some good golf. I know it will be a good match. We’re good mates, so it’s always tougher when you play someone that you really like,’ he added.
