Justin Thomas the man to beat at the WGC Matchplay championship

Justin Thomas has beaten Si Woo Kim in an emphatic 6&5 victory to secure his quarterfinal place, and now faces Kyle Stanley in his quarter final. At the time of writing, he is three up through 12, and another step closer to taking the World No 1 position from Dustin Johnson, who crashed out in the first round.

Sergio Garcia, the only other top 10 seed remaining, was eliminated in the fourth round on Saturday morning by Kyle Stanley, 3&1. 

In  a return to form, Ian Poulter beat Louis Oosthuzien 2&1 to win his fourth match on the bounce. He is now playing Kevin Kisner in his quarterfinal, but is already 7 down through 11 at the time of writing. 

Poults needed a win here to get into the top 50 in the world, and thereby qualify automatically for The Masters, but it looks likely that he won’t be at Augusta National now.

Charles Howell III may have grown up on Augusta National’s doorstep, but he has not qualified since  2012, and had to beat Kiradech Aphibarnrat if he was both going to progressand make it to the Masters, so no pressure there.

Howell had a 1-up lead, but with birdie putts of 8 feet on the last two holes, it was the Thai who secured a quarterfinal berth.

Bubba Watson has now beaten Aphibarnrat 5&3. Bubba had beaten Brian Harman 2&1 to secure his quarterfinal place in a battle of the Georgia southpaws.

Patrick Reed may have beaten Jordan Speith, but Alex Noren had his number and won comfortably 5&3. Noren is now playing Australia’s Cameron Smith, who beat Tyrrell Hatton 2&1.

He is 2-up through 12, and looking good for the semis.

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