Sunday 3 May 2015 19:37, UK
Rory McIlroy has beaten Paul Casey when their quarter-final in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play resumed early on Sunday after darkness forced a halt the previous day at Harding Park.
While Danny Willett, Gary Woodland and Jim Furyk all enjoyed comfortable victories to advance to the semi-finals, McIlroy and Casey could not be separated after 21 holes in San Francisco on Saturday.
Casey was one up with two holes to play only to three-putt the 17th, while both players missed chances to win in extra holes before deciding it was too dark to continue.
The pair resumed their quarter-final at 6.45am (2.45pm UK time) on Sunday, but it did not take long for McIlroy to seal the win with a birdie on the 22nd hole.
He faced a quick turnaround to play Furyk in the semi-finals, while Englishman Willett plays American Woodland in the other last four game.
Casey had been sick overnight but refused to use that as an excuse, telling Sky Sports 4: "I saw my lunch again last night and just (felt) very weak, although I hit two great shots into the first and got a very sticky lie at the back of the green.
"The place it affected me most was actually looking down on the chip, I felt nauseous looking down. But I have nothing to complain about, I had an opportunity yesterday and did not shut the door.
"It's unfortunate but in seasons as long as ours there are moments through the year when you get sick. I'm a big fan of 'beware the injured or sick golfer' and I probably hit the best two shots on the first I have all week.
"My expectations were low but they did not stop me from trying. I am not going to put the par down to anything other than I should have hit the green in two or finished it yesterday."
McIlroy thrashed Japan's Hideki Matsuyama 6&5 in the last 16 to set up his quarter-final with Casey, where another comprehensive win might have allowed him enough time to get to his ringside seat for the contest between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
But McIlory had to give up that pleasure and focus on the early start for the resumption of his clash with Casey.
Casey's birdies on the fourth, fifth and seventh had given the former Ryder Cup player a two-hole lead at the turn after he had lost the opening hole to a McIlroy gain.
McIlroy got back on level terms thanks to a birdie on the 10th and a three-putt bogey from Casey on the 13th, but the Englishman edged back in front after a wayward approach from the world No 1 at the next.
Casey was unfortunate that his tee shot on the 17th finished up against the collar of rough around the green and the resulting three-putt allowed McIlroy to get back to all square after he saved par from right of the green.
Neither player was able to birdie the par-five 18th and the match went into extra holes, starting on the 14th.
As darkness descended, both players got up and down to save par, before Casey left a birdie putt agonisingly short on the 15th and McIlroy saw a five-foot putt lip out.
Watch the final day of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship on Sunday now live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
