Published July 17, 2008 on March 24, 2018

Noren Makes it To Last 16

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Alex Noren set up a mouth-watering last 16 match with America’s Patrick Reed at the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play.

The Swede produced a brilliant finish with birdies on the 17^th and 18^th to defeat Tony Finau 1 up in his final group match to advance to the straight knock-out stages undefeated.

“It’s great to get another and to get through – I putted so well again today and you really need to do that if you want to advance in this tournament because if you are confident on the greens you can be more aggressive and try and hole every putt you have.

“I managed to hole a lot of good putts today, especially on 17 and 18 when it really mattered so that was really satisfying.

“Playing Patrick tomorrow is obviously going to be a tough match. I know a lot of people might look at that as some sort of Ryder Cup rehearsal but I can’t. The Ryder Cup is a long, long way away and I have to go out tomorrow and try and play well and keep making putts because Patrick is a great player and a tough guy to beat so I will need to play really good to beat him,” said Noren.

Noren will be joined in the last 16 by fellow European Tour members Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and Louis Oosthuizen.

Poulter was three up through eight holes in his Friday match against Kevin Chappell when the American conceded the match due to a back injury. The Englishman will face Oosthuizen, who came through a group play-off against Jason Dufner. Poulter needs to win his match with Oosthuizen to secure a place in the Masters.

“Phase one done. We’re now obviously straight match play from here on out. This round-robin thing in the groups is very strange. I don’t know if I like it. Obviously, I’ve come through it, but it is strange. You win two matches and you are still not sure. So we have got the job done, but there’s a long way to go. Four more matches hopefully to contend with and hopefully, I can come out on top.

“Obviously I want to make the Masters. There’s no secret. The form I’m in, I feel like I can really enjoy Augusta. But I need to get there. And it also goes beyond that. I’m staring four potential matches in the face here. If I can get through those four matches, I think there’s a bigger picture with the Ryder Cup this year, which I obviously want to make as well,” said Poulter.

New dad Garcia was two down early in his third match against Xander Shauffle, but turned it round to win on the 17^th and set up a last 16 match with Kyle Stanley of the USA.

Aphibarnrat will take on Charles Howell III on Saturday morning after matching the perfect qualifying records of Garcia, Noren, and Poulter with a 4 and 3 win over Jon Rahm.

Hatton lost his third match of the group against Charley Hoffman but defeated Branden Steele in a play-off to set up his next round match with Australian Cameron Smith.

The remaining last 16 matches will see Brian Harman take on Bubba Watson; Justin Thomas will face Si Woo Kim and Kevin Kisner versus Matt Kuchar.