AUSTIN, Texas — It’s not only the last day of action for the 2023 edition of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, but it’s also the last running of the tournament at Austin Country Club and could very well be the last WGC event ever staged.
The course is in perfect shape, with ACC head pro Dale Morgan telling Golfweek it’s probably the best it’s been during the seven-year run at the Pete Dye-designed track.
The event’s spot on the 2024 schedule, which is typically in late March on the back end of the Florida Swing, is expected to be filled by the Cadence Bank Houston Open, unless it prefers a date in the late April/early May timeframe instead as part of a shuffling of events.
The semifinals certainly weren’t lacking star power this year as Rory McIlroy met Cameron Young and reigning champ Scottie Scheffler squared off with his friend Sam Burns.
Here’s a look at how the final day has played out (with most recent updates at the top).
Scheffler in a battle with buddy Burns
Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns are in a dogfight in one semifinal as Scheffler got 3 down in the first three holes, clawed back to take the lead, but then watched Burns come back to even things on the 15th hole.
The last time Sam Burns won a PGA Tour event was at the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, when he buried a 38-foot putt from off the green to edge his friend and claim the title. The two play a lot of golf, have recently been pickleball teammates, and even sometimes stay together on the road, they’ll both be ready to come out firing on Sunday morning.
“We want to beat each other as bad as anybody, if not more,” Burns said of his relationship with Scheffler. “Obviously, when we tee it up, it’ll be business, and after we’ll give a hug to each other and congratulate whoever wins.”
Watch: Burns surges ahead with incredible shot on 17
At a time when he needed it most, Burns dropped in perhaps his best shot of the tournament, hitting a gap wedge on the 17th to one foot.
Scheffler conceded the birdie and just missed a birdie putt of his own, meaning Burns took the lead for the first time in 11 holes.
Scheffler birdies 18th hole, extends match with Burns
What else would you expect? After Sam Burns nearly holed out on his chip at the short 18th hole, he then missed an 11-footer that would have closed out the reigning champ.
Scheffler stepped up and buried a putt from just inside five feet to get this match square yet again.
The two will head back to No. 12 to keep this fun going.
McIlroy can’t replicate magic on 18 against Young, match is all square
On Thursday, during his match against Denny McCarthy in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club, McIlroy hit one of the best drives of all time.
But looking to close out Cameron Young during the semifinals on Sunday, McIlroy couldn’t repeat that magic, pushing his drive to the right. The ball rolled through a bunker and into a rough lie just off the green.
McIlroy made four, but Young dropped his birdie putt and forced extra play.
On Thursday, McIlroy and McCarthy’s match reached the 18th hole with the Northern Irishman 1 up. He had the first shot, and he smashed his driver with 188 mph ball speed. It finally landed 349 yards away on the front of the green. It ended 3 feet, 9 inches from the hole. Here’s another look at Thursday’s drive from McIlroy.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek