WGC-Dell Match Play Round of 16: Scottie Scheffler can become No. 1 in the world after win over Billy Horschel
Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Will Zalatoris all advanced as well

There was a lot at stake on Saturday morning at the WGC-Dell Match Play, even beyond simply making it to the afternoon quarterfinal matches for a bid at the final four on Sunday. A journeyman was playing for a Masters berth and three separate golfers were playing for the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings. There were layers of drama as the matches unfolded early at Austin Country Club, and the morning lived up to the hype.
The premiere match on Saturday was Brooks Koepka vs. Jon Rahm, both of whom have combined to win three of the last five U.S. Opens, but it only lived up to its billing in that it was one of two matches to go extra holes (more on that below). Kevin Kisner-Adam Scott, which was sleepy early, actually turned out to be the best of them all.
Let's take a quick look at all eight matches and see who's moving on to the quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.
Corey Conners 5 and 3 over Takumi Kanaya: The putting from Kanaya was staggeringly bad. Through eight holes, he had more putts (17) than feet of putts made (16'2"), and Conners didn't have to do much to put him in a 3-down hole after the first nine. That's difficult for anyone to recover from, and Kanaya's fun run into the weekend ended without much of a fight.
Abraham Ancer 7 and 6 over Collin Morikawa: Despite having a chance at becoming world No. 1 for what feels like about the 10th time in the last six week, Morikawa got absolutely pulverized by Ancer. Morikawa played his first nine holes in 2 over and putted it so poorly that at one point he picked up his ball after a missed putt and flung it into a lake, which is not something I've ever seen Morikawa frustrated enough to do. Even if he'd putted well, though, I'm not sure it would have mattered. Ancer was lights-out and delivered a performance that would have given any of the golfers in this Round of 16 plenty of trouble.
Will Zalatoris 1 up over Kevin Na: This one changed hands a lot over the final few holes with Na winning No. 17 with an amazing tee shot and Zalatoris getting it back on No. 18 with a birdie putt. They eventually went to four extra holes and Zalatoris, who was second in the field in the Round of 16 from tee to green, bested Na with a win at the drivable par-4 13th.
Na with a great shot on 17!
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 26, 2022
📺: GOLF pic.twitter.com/EWXP1lBljI
Needed it. Got it 💪@WillZalatoris forces a playoff with Kevin Na. pic.twitter.com/6xoiHo45wd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 26, 2022
Kevin Kisner 1 up over Adam Scott: Kisner trailed from holes No. 3 thru No. 16, but somehow won the match despite being down three with just four holes to go (previously, golfers were 0-185-4 at this course when trailing by three with four to go). He won the last four holes with four straight 3s, including a hole-out eagle on the 16th hole, and somewhat incredibly, moved on to the quarterfinals over Scott in the most exciting finish of all eight morning matches.
Blind bunker shot.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 26, 2022
Never count out @K_Kisner 😤 pic.twitter.com/7tqwuy8lCm
Brooks Koepka 1 up over Jon Rahm: Rahm did not hit the ball well -- at one point he hit an insane pull-hook into the water out of a bunker -- and Koepka took advantage despite losing strokes from tee to green. This was considered the titanic matchup of the Round of 16, but it was not very well played. Arguably, the most exciting thing to emerge from it was a quarterfinal matchup with Dustin Johnson.
From duck hook in the water to tied hole 💪@JonRahmPGA with a huge par save to remain 1DN. pic.twitter.com/TV47dpKdKf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 26, 2022
Dustin Johnson 3 and 2 over Richard Bland: At 49 years old, Bland was playing for what would have been his first-ever appearance in the Masters, and he even led early in the match. But D.J. ruined the ultimate Cinderella story by making birdie at seven of the last 13 holes and flexing his talent when he needed it. The putter helped, too. D.J. poured in putts from everywhere on Saturday morning, and he has actually been the best putter in the field this week. Bland said after the match that he was bummed about the result, but that after getting through his group and taking it to a former No. 1 like D.J. for much of the day, he had a lot of confidence that can in fact play with the best players in the world.
Seamus Power 4 and 3 over Tyrrell Hatton: If at the beginning of this week you had Power as the first player to advance in the Round of 16, you're either brilliant, lucky or lying. Power has arguably been playing the best golf of his career, but as much of an upset as it was for him to get past his pool of Patrick Cantlay, Keith Mitchell and Sungjae Im, the way he disposed of Hatton on Saturday morning was equally as surprising. Power never trailed as Hatton beat himself early with two bogeys in the first three holes before Power closed him out with a run of four birdies in five holes to close out the first nine. Power is now playing with house money as he's already secured his first Masters bid and is now into the quarterfinals looking for the biggest result of his life.
Seamus Power was ranked 454th in the world this time last year.
— Phillip Allen (@PhilAllenTFG) March 26, 2022
He is currently 48th in the world and will make his Masters (and major) debut in two weeks.
Scottie Scheffler 1 up over Billy Horschel: This was an odd match with some squirrelly shots, highlighted by Scheffler's wild birdie on the 16th hole to take the lead for good. Horschel didn't have anything close to his best stuff, and the upshot for Scheffler is massive. This time two months ago, he was considered the best player to never win a PGA Tour event. Now if he wins his next three matches, he'll be the No. 1 golfer in the world.
An absolute roller-coaster of a birdie for Scottie Scheffler 😅 pic.twitter.com/xmby7Cx35k
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 26, 2022
Quarterfinal Matchups
Seamus Power vs. Scottie Scheffler (1:35 p.m.)
Brooks Koepka vs. Dustin Johnson (1:50 p.m.)
Corey Conners vs. Abraham Ancer (2:20 p.m.)
Will Zalatoris vs. Kevin Kisner (TBD)
















