Sam Burns has become the new WGC Dell Technologies Match Play champion with a dominant victory over Cameron Young in the final in Texas.
With Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy having reached the semi-finals, the star pair had been tipped to meet in the showpiece event in Austin.
Instead, the world number one and four-time major champion would meet in the consolation match after Burns and Young came through their respective semi-finals via extra holes.
While a close final appeared likely, that is not what materialised as Burns ran out a 6 & 5 victor, despite trailing by one hole at the end of the fourth hole.
A champion once again 👏@SamBurns66 wins @DellMatchPlay 6&5 over Cameron Young. pic.twitter.com/9m72zcN0EO
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 26, 2023
From there, the world number 15 kicked on, making a remarkable seven birdies in nine holes to surge clear and build an unassailable lead by the 13th.
Young's challenge ended by sending his tee shot on the short par 4 into the water, allowing Burns's more conservative play to earn the birdie and the victory.
Although the third-placed playoff was a far closer affair, a bogey for Scheffler on the first led to McIlroy never being behind in the contest.
Throughout the back nine, McIlroy was pegged back by Scheffler, but after his opponent missed from 13 feet 10 inches to take the match to the 18th hole, McIlroy holed a six feet four inches par putt to seal a 2-1 win.
Darren Plant
