WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play - Day three digest

Everything you need to know from day three at Austin Country Club.

Kitayama emerged victorious from a three-man play-off while defending champion Scheffler continued his love affair with this event as 16 players advanced on the third day of the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

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

Fist pumps for Herbert

Needing just half a point to reach the last 16, Lucas Herbert started brightly against Ben Griffin, winning four of the first eight holes without reply to build up a healthy cushion. But American Griffin hit back, cutting his lead to one with three holes remaining. Herbert dug deep, though, curling in a tricky 20-foot putt at the 16th to secure progress to the knockout phase. And his celebrations showed what it meant to him...

Kuchar catches Tiger

Matt Kuchar equalled Tiger Woods' record of 36 wins at this event with a convincing 7&6 victory over Si Woo Kim, booking his place in the last 16 in the process. He was happy to be mentioned in the same sentence as Woods, saying: "Certainly getting a chance to tie any record of Tiger's is an amazing thing. That's something I still find hard to comprehend that I'm saying, that I tied one of his records. So I'm hugely proud, pleased. There's 300 more records, I'm sure, to go, but it's a fun one to be able to say you've kind of got something you tied Tiger with."

Defending champion marches on

World Number One and last year's winner Scottie Scheffler cruised into the knockout stages with victory over Tom Kim, continuing his superb record in this event, where he has finished second and first in the last two editions. Scheffler will face fellow American J.T. Poston in the round of 16 after he beat Maverick McNealy 3&1 in Pool 16 to preserve his own perfect record this week.

Play-off drama

Kurt Kitayama, Tony Finau and Adrian Meronk each finished with two points after their three Pool 10 matches, with a three-man play-off required to decide the winner. Finau was eliminated at the first extra hole before both Meronk and Kitayama found the green on the second, with the Pole in slightly closer. Kitayama went first and poured in his 20-foot birdie putt to pile the pressure on Meronk - and he was unable to match him, sealing the American's progress to the last 16, where he will meet Andrew Putnam.

Horschel wins battle with Rahm

Billy Horschel also made it through to the weekend after storming to a 5&4 win over Jon Rahm to win Pool 2. Horschel went ahead early on against Spaniard Rahm before stretching his lead around the turn. A birdie at the 14th saw Horschel go 5UP with four to play, setting up a meeting with countryman Cameron Young on Saturday.

McIlroy's great escape

Rory McIlroy found the water at the 12th but rather than walking straight to the 13th tee, he opted to carry on - and his decision paid dividends as he got up and down for a par to tie the hole and remain 3UP. He went on to win his match against Keegan Bradley 3&2 to set up a last-16 clash with Herbert.