Rory McIlroy wins thriller to reach WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play semi-finals

Rory McIlroy continued his good form in the run-up to the Masters with a thrilling victory over Xander Schauffele in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

McIlroy, who previously won the tournament in 2015, followed up a quarter-final win over Australia's Lucas Herbert earlier on Saturday with a narrow 1-up victory over the American.

McIlroy, who is playing with a new putter and driver shaft, said the psychological toll of the format made it tougher to triumph than many of the other events on the tour.

“I think winning the Match Play is always a massive accomplishment because of what you have to go through,” said McIlroy, who will be hoping to win his first major since 2014 at the Masters – the only big crown he has yet to lift – that starts on April 6.

“It’s seven rounds and, especially this week, I feel like a lot of my matches have been really, really close, so to be able to pull them out when I’ve needed to has been very gratifying.

“Maybe there’s a higher sense of satisfaction when you get through on Sunday night and you’re able to win. I feel like it’s maybe just more of an achievement mentally to do it rather than just winning a four-round stroke-play event.”

RORY