WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play - Day four digest

Everything you need to know from Saturday at Austin Country Club.

McIlroy was at the very top of his game, while Scheffler produced two stunning comebacks to keep his title defence on track on day four of the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Here is everything you need to know from Saturday at Austin Country Club.

Herbert brings out the best in McIlroy

Rory McIlroy needed his A-game to get past Lucas Herbert in the last 16 on Saturday morning. The Northern Irishman was not able to shake off the two-time DP World Tour winner until the very last hole despite making nine birdies. Herbert looked set to level the match at the 17th after he drained a monster birdie putt from the edge of the green, but McIlroy then holed his clutch seven-foot putt to stay one ahead with one hole to play. And a remarkable tee-shot at the last helped McIlroy win the contest by two holes. Check out this incredible match play moment at the 17th...

Magnificent McIlroy marches on

Herbert wasn't the only one who made McIlroy work hard for victory on Saturday, as he also edged an evenly-matched contest against Xander Schauffele in the quarter-finals. The American took an early lead and although he pulled level on three occasions, McIlroy wasn't able to get ahead until the very final hole, where he rolled in his putt from around 12 feet to earn a memorable one-hole win. He made 17 birdies across his two knockout matches on Saturday and will meet Cameron Young in the semi-finals.

Horschel's stylish pick-up

Billy Horschel showed us a new way of picking up a golf ball, and it's much cooler than how most people do it...

Kitayama shines on Saturday but falls just short

Kurt Kitayama is making his debut at this event but has looked right at home at Austin Country Club this week. Having beaten Tony Finau in his final group match before winning a three-man play-off to reach the knockout stages on Friday, Kitayama continued his fine form with a runaway 6&5 victory over fellow American Andrew Putnam to book his place in the last eight. After finding himself three down at the turn in his quarter-final against Young, Kitayama cut the deficit to one but his fightback came up short as he lost by one hole.

Young's lucky break almost leads to ace

Young had looked to be in a spot of bother at the par-three 11th against Kitayama as his tee-shot flew towards the bank to the left of the green. But it landed on the hill and fed down towards the hole, giving the huge crowds hope that they might be about to see a miracle ace. And it couldn't have been much closer, stopping agonisingly short of the cup...

Scheffler's fabulous fightbacks 

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler's record of reaching the final day at every visit to this event was at serious risk in his last-16 encounter with J.T. Poston, but he rallied from two down with four to play to progress to the quarter-finals. And he found himself three down early in his clash with Jason Day in the afternoon before winning three holes without reply to level things up after 12. He then won the 13th and 14th to go 2UP. Scheffler almost made an ace at the 17th but had to settle for a certain birdie instead to reach the semi-finals with his tenth consecutive match win at this event. He will meet Sam Burns on Sunday.