Tiger rides eagle hole-out to Rory showdown

AUSTIN, Texas – Tiger Woods produced a stunning hole-out eagle from 83 yards to help catapult the 80-time PGA TOUR winner into the weekend and a chance for a fourth World Golf Championships–-Dell Technologies Match Play title.

His reward is a mouth-watering Round of 16 match up with PLAYERS Champion Rory McIlroy at Austin Country Club after the Northern Irishman beat Matthew Fitzpatrick 4 and 2 to go 3-0 in his group.

“We’re looking forward to it. We’ve played tournaments together, battled each other down the stretch at events, but never in a match play situation, so this will be fun,” Woods said of the upcoming match due to start at 9.30 a.m. eastern time Saturday.

Woods was paired with McIlroy in the final group of last season’s TOUR Championship, which he would go on to win as McIlroy faltered with a 4-over 74 to finish seventh.

“I just need to put up a better fight than I did in Atlanta last year. I didn't have much of a game that day,” McIlroy said.

“It's exciting for the tournament. I'm sure it's going to be exciting for us. I feel good about my game. I played well all year. I've continued to do that this week."

“It's definitely going to be one of those ones where I need to go out there and stick to my game plan, and not really look at what he does until I maybe have to towards the end.”

The pair have never played competitive match play against each other although they have had practice rounds in Florida over the years. McIlroy wouldn’t divulge who had won the most.

They have been paired together 18 times on the PGA TOUR in stroke play tournaments with Woods having the lower score nine times to McIlroy’s six with three ties.

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In his six PGA TOUR starts in 2019, McIlroy has yet to finish outside the top six, including his win at THE PLAYERS.

“I feel like pretty much all of this year it's been close to what I would think is some of my best golf. I feel comfortable with my game,” he said.

“Off the tee I'm driving it as good as I ever have. I've tightened up my iron play since last year. I find something with the putter which I'm sort of going with and it feels really good."

“I wouldn't say I'm peaking. I feel like I can sustain this level.”

Woods’ eagle on the short par-4 13th came in the middle of a furious comeback in his must-win match against Patrick Cantlay.

After laying up into the fairway, he watched Cantlay hit his drive up near the green.

“I needed to put it up there to at least have a chance at three, to force him to have a good pitch from down there,” Woods said having arrived at the hole with the lead off the back of two birdies.

“I think it landed pin-high, skipped back and spun back towards the hole. I tried to hit a little 60 with a little bit of cut spin to hold it against the hill and the wind, and it worked out nice. Bit of a bonus.”

Woods had rallied from being 2-down through eight holes to eventually win the match 4 and 2.

He had four birdies and the eagle in a five-hole run home, turning his deficit into a tidy victory.

Despite his win, Woods also needed help to advance after losing to Brandt Snedeker on Thursday. Aaron Wise, who was winless through two matches, provided the scenario by besting Snedeker in a 6 and 4 rout.