SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Rory McIlroy advanced to the semifinals of the Match Play Championship in a match against Paul Casey that went 22 holes in two days.
Returning in the morning chill Sunday, McIlroy hit a beautiful lag from 60 feet that set up a birdie on the par-5 first hole. Casey hit a 3-wood onto the green, except that it went just over the back into a sticky lie in the rough.
His first chip didn’t reach the green. His next chip was short. He had McIlroy putt from just over 2 feet for the No. 1 player to advance.
Casey became ill overnight and said it affected him only when looking down at his ball in the rough.
McIlroy played Jim Furyk in the semifinals. Gary Woodland played Danny Willett of England.