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DELL MATCH PLAY

Woods’ big run sends him to weekend against McIlroy

AUSTIN, Texas

Tiger Woods gave the fans all they could ask Friday in the Dell Technologies Match Play.

And then Rory McIlroy gave them a little more.

Both won their matches, about 30 minutes apart, setting up a showdown this morning between golf’s biggest name and its hottest player, only one of them moving on to the quarterfinals of a bracket that has only five of the top 16 seeds remaining.

From massive, multi-level hospitality tents along the back nine at Austin Country Club, fans turned every direction possible as Woods made a 20-foot birdie to tie his match, a birdie to lead and then holed out from 83 yards for eagle to seize control against Patrick Cantlay.

He wasn’t finished.

Woods won a fourth straight hole with another 20-foot putt, and cheers from a half-mile away could be heard from fans inside corporate chalets watching on TV.

Two groups behind Woods, McIlroy was rolling to another victory and took out Matt Fitzpatrick, 4 and 2. It was his third victory in as many matches this week. McIlroy has never trailed and has led in 37 of the 42 holes he has played.

LPGA TOUR

Top-ranked Sung Hyun Park tied for Kia Classic lead

CARLSBAD, Calif.

Sung Hyun Park shot a 6-under 66 on Friday at the Kia Classic to take a share of the lead into the weekend.

The top-ranked South Korean star birdied four of the first five holes on her back nine in her second straight bogey-free round at Aviara Golf Club. The Singapore winner last month, she also had a share of the second-round lead last week in Phoenix in the Founders Cup before fading.

Thidapa Suwannapura also had a 66 to match Park at 10-under 134 in the in the final event before the major ANA Inspiration next week in Rancho Mirage. The Thai player also is bogey-free through 36 holes.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Sutherland, Dawson share lead at Fallen Oak

BILOXI, Miss.

Kevin Sutherland and Marco Dawson each shot 7-under 65 on Friday at Fallen Oak to share the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ Rapiscan Systems Classic.

Sutherland eagled the par-5 sixth hole. He dropped into a tie for the lead with a bogey on the par-3 17th.

Dawson birdied five of the first seven holes.

He won the British Senior Open and Tucson Conquistadores Classic, both in 2015.

Jeff Sluman, Tom Byrum, Scott Parel and Tommy Armour III were tied for third at 68.

PGA TOUR

Im takes Dominican Republic lead in bid for Masters spot

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic

Likely needing to win to get a Masters spot through the world ranking, Sungjae Im rebounded from an early double bogey to take the second-round lead Friday in the PGA Tour’s Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.

A day before his 21st birthday, the South Korean player finished with his second straight 5-under 67 for a one-stroke lead over Jonathan Byrd (67), Aaron Baddeley (67), Paul Dunne (69) and George McNeill (65).

At 59th this week, Im needs to get into the top 50 in the next ranking to play at Augusta National. The winner doesn’t earn an automatic Masters spot because the event is being played opposite the World Golf Championships event in Texas.

Associated Press