Burns Knocks Out Scheffler, Young Takes Down McIlroy to Advance to WGC-Match Play Final

The fireworks of match play were on full display at Austin Country Club as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was knocked out by his good friend Sam Burns, and 25-year-old Cam Young defeated four-time major champion Rory McIlroy. 

The tides shifted between Scheffler and Burns all morning, as their match extended to 21 holes. Burns birdied the first three to go 3 up over the defending champion, but faltered through the turn as Scheffler fired off four birdies of his own. Burns clawed back late, and when he nailed his tee shot on the par-3 17th to just 11 inches, the LSU product regained the lead. 

Scheffler didn’t back down, however, making a confident birdie on the last to extend the match. It took three sudden death playoff holes for Burns to sink a 14-footer for birdie and edge out Scheffler, who nearly airmailed the green on the water-lined par-4 14th. 

“I struggled midway through the round. But just was able to battle back and kept myself in it and you know at the end of the day it came down to making putts,” said Burns. 

Cameron Young, on the other hand, only led his match over Rory McIlroy for two holes—Nos. 3 and 4—until the Northern Irishman took control of the round. Down the stretch, Young’s putts finally started to drop while McIlroy cruised in with disappointing pars. 

Young clobbered a long iron into the par-5 16th and made a two-putt birdie to cut his deficit to just 1 down. On 18, Young put his approach to just 7 feet and made the putt to keep the match alive.  

During the first extra hole—Austin Country Club’s par-5 12th—Young was forced to punch out of a fairway bunker after his ball came to rest against the lip. McIlroy seemed to have the advantage, but his approach left him with a tricky chip shot on the right side of the green. Meanwhile Young, coming in from 167 yards, put it to 9 feet and drained the putt to close out the world No. 3. 

“It's just further proof that I feel like I can hang with anybody in the world,” Young said. “Rory's obviously one of the best of his generation, if not the best, and one of the best players in the world right now. So anytime you get to go out and play 19 holes with him it's a lot of fun. Just thankful to get it done.”

Young (Sports Illustrated World Golf Ranking No. 17) will face off Burns (SIWGR No. 15) in the finals this afternoon, while McIlroy and Scheffler settle third place in the consolation match. 

Young is looking to secure his maiden PGA Tour victory while Burns will go for his fifth. Burns also defeated Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge.