It wasn’t until the 13th hole that the winner of the last WGC – Dell Match Play was declared. Sam Burns clinched the final match-play format title in an almost one-sided final in Austin. Because after 24 years, man-to-man duels on the PGA Tour are over. After knocking out Scottie Scheffler in the semis, he made short work of his opponent Cameron Young in the final. In the game for third place, Rory McIlroy prevailed against last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler.
WGC – Dell Match Play: Sam Burns makes it clear
Eight birdies within ten holes spoke a clear language at the end. Sam Burns wins the final edition of the WGC – Dell Match Play at the Austin Country Club and earns his fifth career win on the PGA Tour with little fanfare. And that although it didn’t look like it at all at the beginning of the round. While his opponent, Cameron Young, holed for a birdie on lane 2, Burns had to note the bogey and fell behind by a point. However, the deficit was not to last long and so Burns turned the tables in the episode. He was able to win all holes 5 to 8 and went into the turn with a three-point lead.
4-up thru 10 💪@SamBurns66 is DIALED in the final match against Cameron Young @DellMatchPlay. pic.twitter.com/yNzkZlYMnB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 26, 2023
He also continued his run on the back nine, recorded four more birdies in a row and finally was no longer to be caught on the 13th green. With 6 up, Sam Burns wins the WGC – Dell Match Play 2023 and secures a whopping $3.5 million in prize money. He also owes his success to his caddy, who pushed him against Scottie Scheffler in the semifinals: “This week is just as exhausting mentally as it is physically,” said Burns. “I think after 10 holes this morning my caddy Travis gave me a good kick in the butt and said, ‘Come on man, let’s go, you can do this. And I really needed that at that point. Man, he been strong all week,” Burns continued. “I couldn’t have done it without him.” In the semifinals, Burns beat Scottie Scheffler after 21 holes, while Cameron beat Rory McIlroy on the 19th hole. It was the first time both semifinals in Austin had gone into overtime.
A perfect record @DellMatchPlay 💯 pic.twitter.com/8FpTLUlcuq
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 27, 2023
McIlroy beats Scheffler in the Consolation Match
In the small final, which, judging by the name, could very well have been the “real” final, Rory McIlroy secured third place ahead of Scottie Scheffler. In a hard-fought duel, it took 17 holes before a winner was determined. The Northern Irishman was able to win a total of six lanes, while Scheffler only won four points. McIlroy’s mind is on a very different tournament coming up in a few days: “I think my game is in really good shape so I’m keeping it going and working on the shots I need for Augusta National “And let’s go”.
