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Rahm rolls on into Austin semi-finals
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Rahm rolls on into Austin semi-finals

Jon Rahm's sensational run at the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play showed no sign of slowing up as he beat Søren Kjeldsen to advance to the semi-finals at Austin Country Club.

Jon Rahm and Søren Kjeldsen

The Spaniard joined the European Tour 25 days ago and has been very impressive ever since, finishing in a tie for third at the WGC - Mexico Championship and compiling a 100 per cent record here in Texas.

That included 6 and 4 wins over countryman Sergio Garcia in the group stages and Charles Howell III in the quarter-finals earlier on Saturday, and he was even more dominant against Kjeldsen.

The Dane is a brilliant competitor and defeated World Number Two Rory McIlroy earlier in the week but Rahm is on a roll and was irresistible in a 7 and 5 triumph.

Next up for Rahm in the last four is American Bill Haas, who was a 2 and 1 winner over countryman Phil Mickelson.

"I missed one single shot and that was the second shot on nine," said Rahm. "I missed it just right of the green. Every other single shot I hit is pretty much exactly the way I wanted. To play golf like that and make a couple of putts was a perfect round.

"There's not many rounds of golf where a player looks back and says 'I cannot play any better'. Today was one of those.

"Any time Søren hit a good shot, I just closed the door on him. If I had to play myself today, I would have been frustrated. I did a good job putting pressure on him today."

There's not many rounds of golf where a player looks back and says 'I cannot play any better'. Today was one of those - Jon Rahm

Kjeldsen failed to find the putting surface on the first to surrender a bogey and a Rahm approach to ten feet on the third moved the 22 year old two up. A stunning approach to the sixth then set up an eagle and when Kjeldsen bogeyed the eighth, he looked in real trouble.

The 41 year old was inside Rahm on the tenth green but missed from eight feet, leaving the door open for another win, and an approach to 12 feet on the 12th had Rahm dormie six.

Rahm put his second to eight feet on the next and when Kjeldsen missed his birdie putt, he offered his hand.

Ahead of them, Haas hit a stunning approach to birdie the first but he bogeyed the next before a birdie-par-birdie-birdie run had him three up.

Mickelson hit a wonderful tee-shot into the par three seventh to grab a hole back but Haas was dialled in, and another excellent approach to the ninth re-established his cushion at the turn.

The five-time Major winner birdied the tenth and a Haas bogey on the 12th cut the gap to one but a stunning approach to the 15th edged the World Number 47 further ahead.

Haas knows he will face a big test against Rahm and was full of praise for his semi-final opponent.

"He's won this year," he said. "He's had other top tens in World Golf events and big events.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the kid won a Major this year. He's playing this good and obviously this week is no exception.

"I think I will try to play golf. Again, seven birdies will do tomorrow. That will help. The way he's playing, that will probably just make it a tight match."

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