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Rampant Rahm races into Match Play quarters

Jon Rahm during his round-of-16 victory in Austin

Jon Rahm continued to turn heads at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on Saturday, cruising into the quarter-finals with a 6 and 4 thrashing of Charles Howell III.

Former amateur world number one Rahm, who claimed his maiden PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in January, hammered fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia by the same margin to progress from Group 7 on Friday with a 100 per cent record.

And it was another convincing victory for the 22-year-old against Howell, as Rahm again showed why he is being tipped to contend at next month's Masters.

Rahm was three up at the turn and soon pulled further clear courtesy of birdies on the 10th and 12th before wrapping up his win with yet another gain at the 14th.

Next up for Rahm is a clash later on Saturday with Soren Kjeldsen, who qualified from Rory McIlroy's pool. The veteran Dane backed up his fine group-stage form by beating William McGirt 5 and 4.

World number one Dustin Johnson was another convincing winner, triumphing 5 and 4 against namesake Zach Johnson. He will face Alex Noren, a 3 and 1 victor over Brooks Koepka.

An excellent front nine ensured Phil Mickelson, yet to be taken past the 15th this week, breezed past Marc Leishman 4 and 3 to set up a tie against Bill Haas, who beat Kevin Na on the 18th.

The other quarter-final will feature Ross Fisher, who completed a 4 and 3 win over Bubba Watson by holing out from a bunker on the 15th, and Hideto Tanihara. The latter shocked Paul Casey with a 2 and 1 victory, having beaten Jordan Spieth on Wednesday.

 

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