Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ontario has qualified for the round of 16 at the 2023 World Golf Matchplay Championships in Austin, Texas. On Friday, Hughes won Group 12 to advance to play on Saturday.
Hughes opened the tournament with a 4&3 loss to three-time major champion Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas. (Spieth’s major titles came at the 2015 Masters, 2015 United States Open, and 2017 British Open). Hughes then bounced back on Thursday by beating 2019 British Open champion Shane Lowry of Clara, Ireland 4&3, before moving to a record of two wins and one loss with a 6&4 win over Taylor Montgomery of Las Vegas, Nevada. Due to the fact Montgomery also had a first place record of two wins and one loss, Hughes and Montgomery went to a sudden death playoff, which Hughes won with a first hole birdie.
Hughes, who is ranked 50th in the tournament out of 64, will now face the fifth ranked player, Max Homa of Burbank, California. Hughes is one of four non-Americans left in the tournament. He is joined by Australians Jason Day and Lucas Herbert, and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. Day and McIlroy are major champions. Day won the 2015 PGA Championship. McIlroy won the 2011 United States Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship, and 2014 British Open.
