JASON DAY WILL move back to the top of the official world golf ranking after beating Brooks Koepka to set up a mouth-watering semi-final tie against defending champion Rory McIlroy at the WGC-Dell Match Play.
By securing his place in the last four with a 3 and 2 victory over Koepka, Day — the winner of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational — ensured he will overtake Jordan Spieth as world number one when the latest rankings are released on Monday.
Spieth was knocked out at the last-16 stage on Saturday by Louis Oosthuizen, who went on to book his place in the last four with a 2 and 1 victory over Dustin Johnson.
Yet while a clash with surprise package Rafael Cabrera-Bello awaits Oosthuizen, greater focus is set to fall on the meeting between Day and McIlroy, the latter having beaten Chris Kirk 4 and 3 to extend his winning run in this competition to 12 matches.
McIlroy was two up after four holes and then hit top form on the back nine after a lapse in form had allowed Kirk to pull level.
“I was a little annoyed … letting Chris get back into it with a three-putt on nine, but after that I think I was four-under for my next six holes and that was enough to get the job done,” said McIlroy.
“I’m just really happy that I’m playing well and have made it through to tomorrow [Sunday]. To get through to the last day for the second year in a row, it feels good.”
Day, who is seeking to regain the title he won in 2014, progressed in similar fashion to McIlroy, coming on strong after the turn to end the hopes of 18th seed Koepka.
Oosthuizen, meanwhile, was one down at the halfway stage of his match with Johnson, but swiftly turned things around thereafter and birdied the penultimate hole to seal victory.
Saturday’s other quarter-final saw Cabrera-Bello continue his excellent week at the expense of Ryan Moore, who was behind for all but two holes.
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Great news especially with rojo being able to cover left full and centre half . Unfortunately the damage is already done for the league this season
@hard yaka: yeah hard yaka can’t see city being caught but great to have the 3 of them back.
Pogba will be a huge addition. He’s been a massive loss. As somebody who never rated Herrera, I’m glad the rest of the Utd fans have finally copped how limited he is.
@Lurfic: Most be you only man and a handful of others. I highly rate Herrera and quite a lot of united fan base too.
Herrera is a work horse, future captain I think.
Great news. Pogba is back. Hahahah brillo. Points be dropped even more so now.
@Is mise muc gránna: what’s that comment based on that doesn’t make any sense united have dropped more points without him playing so what sort of comment is that?
@John Barnes: Don’t feed the semiliiterate troll John.
@John Barnes: Because he actually hasn’t a clue what he is saying, just ‘attempting’ to be funny and kick off another war of words by muttering any old shit.
@Declan Doyle: that would be semiliterate……
@Jason Brosnahan: That’s correct. Careful or they’ll be after you also.
@John Barnes: The point is that in my opinion he is rubbish so great and brillo he is back.
@Is mise muc gránna: who actually says “brillo”? What are you 7 ?
@Is mise muc gránna: Know when you’re beaten. Shut it.
Happy days
Delighted to have them back especially Rojo the guy is a beast and a brick wall.
Yawn. So overvalued and over rated. Better than the crap playing at the moment to be fair though