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‘Group of death’ in Austin down to pair of 40-somethings

AUSTIN, Texas – This week’s so-called “group of death” at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play will come down to a pair of forty-somethings, but the odds were always in their favor.

Stenson’s 4-and-3 victory on Thursday over Jason Day and Jim Furyk’s 1-up triumph over Phil Mickelson sets up a Day 3 showdown between the two, who are both 2-0-0 this week. That’s a 48-year-old (Furyk) and a 42-year-old (Stenson) on the marquee of one of the day’s most meaningful matches.

“Why don’t they call him the 48-year-old Phil Mickelson, why is that?” joked Furyk following his Day 2 victory over Lefty.

Both Mickelson and Day, who at 31 was the baby of the group, are winless this week and are mathematically eliminated from advancing to the knockout rounds.


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“We’re trying to keep up with the older guys. I’m only 43 next week, so I feel like a young pup,” Stenson smiled.

There’s also a scenario where Furyk and Stenson could tie their match on Friday and then play a sudden-death playoff to decide who advances to the weekend out of their group.

“I knew starting the week the three guys I have, let’s be honest, there’s no easy matches here. Jason Day, Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson ... That’s a tough group,” Furyk said. “I’m fortunate for the first couple of days I got some bounces going my way.”