Sunday 3 May 2015 21:15, UK
Danny Willett is keen to take the positives from his WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship semi-final loss to Gary Woodland.
The Englishman had followed topping his round-robin group with victories over compatriots Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood to reach the last four, but his victory hopes were ended by a 3&2 defeat to Woodland on Sunday morning.
Willett had struck three birdies and continued his fine form from earlier in the week, although saw the contest come to an early end when Woodland sunk his ball at the 15th.
"We were three under par and played some solid golf, just missed a couple at the wrong time and he (Woodland) holed a couple of nice ones at the end,” Willett told Sky Sports 4. “It was just a really good match; he didn’t give anything up and just played solid.
“It’s been a really long, tough week and you need to take away from the positives, that it's Sunday in a World Golf Championship and we are here competing."
Willett raced in to a two-hole lead after four, before the American produced a brilliant escape from the trees to birdie the sixth and then get back on level terms with another gain at the seventh.
A missed par-save from five feet from Willett at the eighth gave Woodland the lead, with the 52nd seed doubling his advantage when he pitched close at the 12th and rolled in the birdie putt.
The Englishman reduced the deficit after firing his tee shot at the short 13th to within six feet of the flag, but lost ground when three-putting the next.
After Willett left a birdie putt from the edge of the 15th just short of the cup, Woodland nailed a 12-foot gain at the next to seal the victory with two holes to spare.
Woodland will now progress to the big-money final, while Willett will end an impressive TPC Harding Park debut by playing in the consolation match.
Watch the final of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship live on SS4 - your home of golf.
