It was the dream final, but for third place. Both Scottie Scheffler, current champion and number one in the world, and Rory McIlroy, who this Monday will rise to second place at the expense of Jon Rahm, They fell this Sunday in the semifinals of the Mundial Match Playwho found his last champion in the American Sam Burns, executioner first of Scheffler and after Cameron Young (6&5) in the title match, announced since the appointment of the Austin Country Club (Texas, USA)will not be part of the PGA schedule in 2024.
Although it is true that this is a difficult product to sell to sponsors and television channels, a tournament in which it is normal for there to be fewer figures on the field on Sunday than on Wednesday, It is no less than its singularity, as the only regular event of the season that is played with a direct confrontation format, the same as that of the Ryder Cupoffers levels of emotion that will be missed.
Also a level of golf that, once again due to the format itself, is difficult to sustain in other competitions. Match play undresses the golfer, forces him to be aggressive like no other habitat, to always go for the flag unless there is an error from the opponent. And so, duels like the ones this Sunday end up becoming almost boxing matches. Now I hit, now you. Both the one that measured McIlroy with Young and the one that faced Scheffler with Burns decided on points, neither unable to knock out in the first 18 holes.
Scheffler and Burns extended the fray three more; for Young it was enough with the first extra hole to knock down his Northern Irish rival, the buoy to which Europe can hold on before the wreck of his golf this week, which would later prevail in the match for third place (2&1).
There was no option for Young against Burns in the grand final, which put the New Yorker face to face, a flawless golfer who goes very long from the tee and credits a notable short game, and the one from Louisiana, above all an excellent kicker, author of several ‘cigars’ throughout these five days. And that, in any golf context, but more so in match play, is a lethal weapon. Young pressed at the start, one up after four holes, but the gods of this sport chose to accompany their rival from then on. Eight birdies between 4 and 13 and seven holes won. The game did not go from there. Checkmate.
It is Burns’ fifth victory in the PGA and good news for the Ryder team from the United States, which has a potential member in it after a first team experience, that of the Presidents last year, three defeats and two draws, a so disappointing. As is the loss of a tournament that, even if it is facelifted through (in this sense, the possibility of moving it to Wentworth, home of the PGA European Championship), is hopefully back on the agenda soon.
