AUSTIN (Texas) — Max Homa was the first player to make it to Austin Country Club’s knockout stage without advancing to the first tee.
Homa beat Justin Suh 3 and 2 in his first match. He then won from behind to defeat match-play guru Kevin Kisner. Homa moved on to the round of 16, after Hideki Miatsuyama pulled out before the pair could tee off.
Due to inclement weather, all tee times were moved to Friday. Matsuyama opened play with a victory over Kisner but lost to Suh on Thursday, 3 & 1, and would have been playing for an chance to advance.
Hideki Matsuyama, who suffered a neck injury prior to the match at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at 9:06 am, has lost his match to Max Homa. Homa moves out of group play with an unbeaten record of 3-0-0.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms March 24, 2023
Suh is now out of the playoffs, despite a win against Kisner or a Matsuyama win.
Matsuyama sees it as another bump in an injury-plagued 18 month.
Eight-time PGA Tour champion withdrew before the first round of the 2022 Players Championship, citing a back injury. A week after defending at The Masters, he withdrew his entry from the Valero Texas open. Due to a neck injury, he withdrew after the first round of the 3M Open and the FedEx St. Jude Championship playoff events.
He also withdrew his entry from the Cadence Bank Houston Open Memorial Park Golf Course, citing a neck injury.
Homa is now free from pool play for the first time in his three attempts.
