Schaeffler "Advances to Semifinals" ... "Is the Del Match Now an Underdog Revolt?"

On the Fourth Day of the Dell Technologies Match Play, an Upset as 'Number 3' Ram is Defeated in the Quarterfinals, Competing with Kuchar for the 'Final Ticket'

Scottie Scheffler is teeing off at the 10th hole during the quarterfinals on the fourth day of the Dell Technologies Match Play. Texas, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The uprising of the underdogs."

World No. 32 Scottie Scheffler (USA) advanced to the semifinals. On the 28th (Korean time) at Austin Golf Club in Texas, USA (par 71, 7,108 yards), during the fourth day of the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Dell Technologies Match Play (total prize money $10.5 million), Scheffler defeated ‘Number 3’ Jon Rahm (Spain) by 3 holes in the quarterfinals, drawing even more spotlight. Viktor Perez (France), ranked 33rd, Billy Horschel (USA), ranked 34th, and Matt Kuchar (USA), ranked 57th, also joined the semifinals.

Moreover, Scheffler is a 24-year-old rookie who joined the PGA Tour last year. In the morning round of 16, he achieved a ‘5-hole victory’ over Ian Poulter (England), and in the afternoon quarterfinal against Rahm, his early surge of leading by 3 holes in the first 6 holes stood out. Above all, his consistency was powerful, recording 8 birdies without a single bogey. He commented, "The match was comfortable," and "I approached the game simply." He will face Kuchar in the semifinals.

It is interesting that with Rahm’s elimination, all the ‘Top 30’ players have left the course. This tournament is the largest match play stage in the global golf world. Naturally, just qualifying is difficult. The top 64 ranked players are divided into 16 groups, like the World Cup in soccer, playing 3 group stage matches, and only the first place advances to the round of 16. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, No. 2 Justin Thomas, No. 4 Collin Morikawa, and No. 5 Bryson DeChambeau (all USA) were stopped in the preliminaries.

Kuchar’s strength is formidable. In the round of 16, he defeated Jordan Spieth by 1 hole with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4), and in the quarterfinals, he edged out Brian Harman (USA) by 2 holes. Perez won by 4 holes against Sergio Garcia (Spain) and is the only European player to reach the semifinals, where he will face Horschel. Horschel ended a close match against Tommy Fleetwood (England) that went into overtime with a par on the resumed 19th hole at the 12th hole (par 5).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.