FRENCHMAN REACHES LAST FOUR ON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT

DEADLY DUBUISSON SETS UP 

SEMI-FINAL v ELS BY BEATING G-MAC

 NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR

Rising star Victor Dubuisson, pictured left in Arizona by courtesy of Getty Images(c), will face South African legend Ernie Els in the semi-finals of the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship on Sunday after knocking out Graeme McDowell in the round of the last eight at the Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Arizona 

The Turkish Airlines Open winner, making his World Golf Championship debut, produced some majestic short game play coming down the stretch to finish one up and end McDowell’s remarkable run.

The Northern Irishman came through the first three rounds thanks to thrilling late comebacks, but his luck ran out against Dubuisson, whose birdie on the par four 15^th proved decisive. 

Els’ 4 and 2 victory over young American Jordan Spieth was far more one-sided – the 44 year old South African was never down – and this represents his best performance in the competition since he was fourth in 2001.

The winner of the all-European Tour semi-final will face either Australian Jason Day, who saw off South African Louis Oosthuizen 2 and 1, or American Rickie Fowler, who beat compatriot Jim Furyk on the 18th.

Frenchman Dubuisson said: “I knew Graeme was going to be a tough player to beat, but I just played my own stroke play and I didn't watch him too much. I tried to just focus on my game and make birdies. 

“I have been practising my chipping a lot here this week because the rough around the greens is so thick. That definitely helped me with those tricky chips on the final few holes today.

“I've never played with Ernie before. He has a lot of experience and has won so many tournaments and Majors. I will just do the same as I did today and yesterday against Bubba (Watson), just play my own stroke play and don't watch him, don't be impressed.” 

Els was something of a match play specialist at his peak, winning the World Match Play Championship seven times between 1994 and 2007.

He said: “I'm obviously elated. It's been a wonderful week and although at times I haven't played my best, I've just done enough to get through. 

“At 44, you know, you're out of most professional sports by 15 years.  Here I am still playing and competing against the youngsters, so it's quite amazing.”

 

Quarter-final results

J Day (Australia) bt L Oosthuizen(S Africa) 2 and 1.
R Fowler (USA) bt J Furyk (USA) 1 hole.
E Els (S Africa) bt J Spieth (USA) 4 and 1.
V Dubuisson (France) bt G McDowell (N Ireland) 1 hole.
SUNDAY SEMI-FINALS
Day v Fowler
Els v Dubuisson