SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Rory McIlroy rolled into the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship on Saturday with four birdies on the front nine for a 6-and-5 victory over Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.
McIlroy has joked all week about wanting a short match Saturday to get to Las Vegas for the fight. He at least got one in the morning. He needed another in the afternoon.
As the No. 1 player, McIlroy and fifth-seeded Jim Furyk were the only players from the top 35 still around at TPC Harding Park. Furyk recovered from an early deficit to beat J.B. Holmes 5 and 3.
Danny Willett won the battle of Blighty with a 3-and-2 win over Lee Westwood. Another Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood, advanced by beating Branden Grace of South Africa.