WGC Match Play recaps: Semifinals
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• • •
SEMIFINALS
JONES-HOGAN BRACKETS
Tiger Woods (1) def. Henrik Stenson (4), 2 up.
Yet again, Woods came through when he had to. Stenson squared the match with a huge birdie on No. 16, but Woods, in typical fashion, responded with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to regain his 1-up lead. Stenson missed the green with a poor approach to No. 18, and the match was conceded. With the win, Woods ended Stenson’s 10-match winning streak dating back to last year’s tournament. Woods holds the record for longest win streak with 13 matches.
• • •
PLAYER-SNEAD BRACKETS
Stewart Cink (6) def. Justin Leonard (13), 4 and 2.
Cink made five birdies and an eagle in the first eight holes and took a 4-up lead over Leonard, who struggled with his game throughout the day. Leonard didn’t win his first hole until No. 15, but Cink closed him out with a birdie on No. 16.
• • •
QUARTERFINALS
BOBBY JONES BRACKET
Tiger Woods (1) def. K.J. Choi (3), 3 and 2.
Choi
struggled with his game throughout the round, and Woods capitalized
with a chip-in eagle on No. 10, followed by birdies on Nos. 12, 14, and
15. Tiger’s 30-foot birdie on No. 15 was a blow to Choi, who could only
halve after he stuck it close and made his 4-foot birdie. Choi missed a
birdie putt on the next hole to extend the match.
• • •
BEN HOGAN BRACKET
Henrik Stenson (4) def. Woody Austin (10), 2 up.
Austin
took a 2-up lead through six holes, but a balky putter from Austin
allowed Stenson to win the next five holes and take a 3-up lead.
Stenson’s win over Austin was his 10th consecutive win, dating back to
last year’s WGC-Accenture Match Play. In the semifinals, Stenson will
face Tiger Woods, who holds the WGC Match Play record with 13
consecutive matches won.
• • •
SAM SNEAD BRACKET
Stewart Cink (6) def. Angel Cabrera (4), 3 and 2.
Cink’s
win was his fourth over international players in this year’s
tournament, including European Ryder Cup candidates Colin Montgomerie,
Padraig Harrington, and Miguel Angel Jimenez in his first three
matches. Cink never trailed in his match against the U.S. Open
champion. He stuck his tee shot within a few feet on the par-3 16th to
close out his match with Cabrera.
• • •
GARY PLAYER BRACKET
Justin Leonard (13) def. Vijay Singh (3), 1 up.
Leonard
rode a can’t-miss putter and eventually took a 3-up lead through 11
holes, but Singh birdied the next two holes to go 1 down. He then
birdied the 17th hole to square the match, but Leonard’s putter came
through again as he sank a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to win the
match. Leonard, the highest-seeded player left in the tournament, will
face Stewart Cink in the semifinals.
Posted: 2/23/2008
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