Rory McIlroy and Jason Day looking forward to semi-final encounter
Sunday 27 March 2016 14:43, UK
Rory McIlroy and Jason Day are relishing the challenge of facing each other for a place in the WGC-Dell Match Play final on Sunday.
McIlroy feels he has been improving throughout the week at the Austin Country Club in Texas, and he produced his best performance of the tournament in his 4&3 victory over Chris Kirk in the quarter-finals.
The win extended his unbeaten run in the competition to 12 matches, while 2014 champion Day continued to defy his back injury as he recorded 3&2 wins over Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka on a marathon fourth day.
Live World Golf Championship
Speaking to reporters while Day was still playing Koepka, McIlroy said: "I'd love to play Jason, I'd really relish it. He's playing really well at the minute, coming off a win at Bay Hill last week. But I'd be really up for it, it's a big match.
"He's two in the world, I'm three, so I'd look forward to that a lot. I've got to the final day in this tournament three times and I've never had to play in a consolation match. So hopefully it's the same case tomorrow."
McIlroy has played 19 more holes than Day throughout the tournament, but the defending champion insisted that will not be a factor in their semi-final showdown.
"I should know the golf course a little bit better than he does, just because I've played so many holes," McIlroy added. "I feel walking 18 holes or 36 holes today isn't that big a challenge. If I do go all 36 tomorrow, I'll be tired at the end of the week but I don't think that's going to give him an advantage."
But Day, who will replace Jordan Spieth as world No 1 when the rankings are updated on Monday, feels he might benefit from being fresher - a situation undoubtedly helped by Paul Casey's withdrawal due to illness in their final group stage encounter on Friday.
"Obviously it helps with what happened to Paul yesterday, only playing six holes, but any sort of advantage I can take, I need against him," said the Australian. "Rory is obviously a fit looking bloke, so I don't think fitness is something he's going to have any trouble with.
"I've got to make sure I'm sharp and I've got to come out on top and make sure I don't miss any information out there and focus on just giving every shot a hundred percent.
"I know Rory is going to be a tough opponent. It seems like he's hitting it great - he always hits it great - and it seems like he's got the putter going as well. It's definitely going to be a difficult match, but I think it's going to be an exciting match too.
"I'm looking forward to being able to play against Rory, especially in this format, we don't get to do that too much. So I'm excited about the challenge of trying to beat him."
When asked to compare his game with McIlroy's, Day added: "I would say very similar. I think he's probably got me with some length out there, although we both hit it pretty long. He hits some fantastic iron shots, but I think on the green is going to be the biggest difference between me and Rory.
"If he comes out and he putts well, he can get things going pretty quick. The last round at Arnold Palmer, he shot 65 and he looked like he did it easy. He's one of those guys that makes rounds look very easy and simple, and it's not easy to shoot those scores. So I think the difference tomorrow is going to be on the greens definitely."
