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Louis Oosthuizen knocks Bubba Watson out of Match Play

Bubba Watson hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during round three of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Match Play.
Image: Bubba Watson: Was 2up heading in to the back nine

Bubba Watson became the latest big-name exit from the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship after losing to Louis Oosthuizen.

In a repeat of the 2012 Masters play-off which saw Watson claimed his first Green Jacket, Oosthuizen avoided a repeat result by rolling in a 10-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to claim victory.

The world No 4 had been two holes up heading in to the back nine and made three gains in a row from the 12th to move in to pole position, before Oosthuizen hit back with a gain of his own at 16th.

Watson missed a chance to regain his lead at the next and both players squandered chances to secure victory at the par-five 18th, before the South African completed the win to continue his unbeaten start to the week. 

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Highlights from day three of the WGC Cadillac Match Play in San Francisco.

“It was a good match,” Oosthuizen told Sky Sports 4. “Both of us didn’t really get the ball in the hole in a lot of the round.

“I think we both disappointed on the 18th not to get one of those putts in, but all in all I played well again.”

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Sudden death

The first three-man play-off under the revised format came in group 7, where Branden Grace defeated Zach Johnson and Charley Hoffman at the third extra hole to set up a last-16 clash with WGC Match Play debutant Tommy Fleetwood.

The Englishman beat Bernd Wiesberger at the 19th hole and advanced courtesy of his better head-to-head record with Jamie Donaldson, who had kept his qualification hopes alive with a 2&1 win over Sergio Garcia.  

Live World Golf Championship

“It was really hard work but a really good match,” Fleetwood told Sky Sports 4. “I made four birdies on the back nine and was playing really well but Bernd wasn’t giving anything away.

“It’s my first year of doing this, but just getting in to these events and in to the WGC’s is where we all want to be playing.

“You can’t help but learn and can’t help but get better being around all the best golfers in the world and luckily enough I’m going a little bit further along the way!”

Only two of the 64 players had already booked their place in the last 16, with Rickie Fowler and John Senden advancing with a match to spare thanks to victories on the opening two days against the two players who could possibly match their overall record.

John Senden: Hasn't posted a top-30 finish on the PGA Tour this season.
Image: John Senden: Hasn't posted a top-30 finish on the PGA Tour this season.

Senden will face former champion Hunter Mahan in the second round, who advanced to the knockout stages by beating compatriot Matt Kuchar 5&4 to stay unbeaten in group 14.

“It does feel good, Matt’s a great player and great competitor,” Mahan told Sky Sports 4. “It was nice to get a win today.

“I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, which made it easier on myself and put a lot of pressure on him to hit great shots.”

Fowler thrashed Graeme McDowell 5&4 and will now take on Louis Oosthuizen for a place in the last eight, after the South African snatched victory from world No 4 Bubba Watson with a birdie at the first extra hole. 

Watch the knockout stages of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship live throughout the weekend on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. 

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