The WGC-Dell Tech Match Play quarter-final between 2016’s runner-up and 2018’s runner-up went down to the wire, with Louis Oosthuizen ultimately coming up short against Kevin Kisner.
Oosthuizen, who lost to Jason Day a few years back, faced a player who clearly enjoys the format and the course. Both lost on day one and both had been delivering the goods since then.
It was Kisner though, a 6&5 loser in last year’s final to Bubba Watson, who progressed after a mighty battle with the South African.
Oosthuizen lost the first hole, but then made four birdies in his next six to move 1-up through eight before a double bogey on the ninth saw the match return AS.
Again, the South African moved away with a birdie on the 10th, but Kisner would just not go away.
A poor approach on the 15th saw Kisner level matters with a par.
That was all the gap he needed as he pounced on the next when he got up and down for birdie from the bunker at 16 to move ahead for the first time since the third hole.
Kisner then ended the match when he hit his tee on the short 17th to 2 feet.
‘He came out firing,’ said Kisner.
‘He made a bunch of birdies and really putted well. I just kept plugging along, made some pars there when I needed to. Short game kind of bailed me out coming in.’
Kisner faces Francesco Molinari for a place in the final.
The Italian was too good for Kevin Na despite losing the first hole. After that the Ryder Cup star steamrolled the American running out as a 6&5 winner.
In the other semi-final, Matt Kuchar faces tournament rookie Lucas Bjerregaard. The latter was responsible for dispatching Tiger Woods 1-up.
