"I don't think anyone in the world beats Rory..." - Lucas Herbert lauds Rory McIlroy as he books WGC Match Play showdown against him

The final edition of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play has entered the Round of 16, with the winners of each pool now knowing who their next opponents will be. Australian Lucas Herbert beat Ben Griffin 3 and 1 for a perfect record in his pool to set up a date with 2015 WGC Match Play champion Rory McIlroy.

Regarding his decorated opponent in the next round, the 27-year-old said in an interview with australiangolfdigest.com:

"I’m sure that won’t be an easy match. I’m sure. Look, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ve only played with Rory once. I played with him on Saturday in Phoenix.

"Probably the biggest crowd you’ll ever play with Rory in the same group with, I would imagine so. It’s going to be fun. He’s a great player. If he turns up with his A game, I think I’m in a lot of trouble. But if he doesn’t, I’m looking for the fight."

Lucas Herbert's perfect record in his group

The OGWR number 56 missed the Players Championship cut last year. He knows that a win at the Austin Country Club would hand him a ticket to The Masters in April.

Having won both his previous matches in the pool, Herbert knew that a tie would be enough to guarantee him a place in the next round. However, having had a comfortable day, to begin with, being up by 3 through 11 holes, Griffin started making a comeback. But the Australian made certain his victory with a 20-foot eagle putt at the 16th hole and a 24-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to clinch the tie and his pool.

Rory McIlroy high on confidence

McIlroy, on the other hand, saw off USA's Keegan Bradley 3 and 2 to book himself a place in the Round of 16. This victory came almost more than a decade after their famous Ryder Cup singles match, which too the Northern Irishman had won. He also became the first player to compile a perfect record thrice since the group format began in 2015.

In an interview with PGA Tour Live, McIlroy said:

"I think everyone knows I came here this week with a slightly different driver set-up and I’m getting more and more confidence with it as the days go by. I drove it great yesterday and great again today and I think this course sets up well if you can drive it in the fairway and drive it long, especially these last few holes.

“I was a little happier with my putting on the front nine, I missed a couple of short ones coming in there that meant I probably could have put Keegan away a little bit earlier, but overall everything feels pretty good."

Jason Day has an easy day

Also advancing to the next round was Herbert's fellow countryman and two-time champion of the WGC Match Play event, Jason Day. The former World No.1 crushed Collin Morikawa 4 and 3 and set himself a date with Matt Kuchar.

Day told australiangolfdigest.com:

“I think that if Collin holed some more putts we’d be going like some extra holes. It was nice to be able to take advantage of some of my putts on 2 and 9. Some good quality iron shots out there again, which was great. Some of the shots that I didn’t feel comfortable over, I felt like I handled those pretty nicely.”

The knockouts of the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play start on Saturday morning.