Luke List hardly used a putter yet still took reigning player of the year Justin Thomas to the final hole of their matchup at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on Wednesday.
Thomas and List — who faced off in a playoff at The Honda Classic three weeks ago (Thomas won) — were one of the first matches off to begin the round robin portion of the Match Play. Thomas ended up winning 2 up, but List gave him all he could handle despite using a wedge as a putter for more than half his round.
“I was walking off the 6th tee, and I was a little unhappy about the way I was feeling, a little under the weather,” said List, who was 2 down at the time. “And I thought it was like a brush area and I just kind of swiped my putter, and it turned out to be a wall. It bent like a fraction of an inch. So unfortunately I couldn’t use it the rest of the way. Stupid on my part.” (Since List didn’t damage his club in the normal course of play, he was not allowed to get a new putter.)
Thomas went 3 up after seven, yet List, the No. 60 seed vs. the second-seeded Thomas, hung around. He won three of four holes from 13 to 16 to cut Thomas’ lead to 1 up through 16, and after they both parred the 17th List had a chance to eke out a miraculous halve. Thomas, however, blasted his tee shot into the greenside bunker on 18, knocked it close from the sand and made birdie to win 2 up.
The winner of each of the 16 groups after Friday advances to Saturday’s Round of 16.
Below is how List won on 15 and 16 and Thomas’ match-clinching bunker shot on 18.
Luke List is hanging around …
He’s 2-down with 3 to play. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/o8L0kq00Lg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2018
From 3-down to 1-down, all with a sand wedge as his putter.
Luke List has made a match of it against FedExCup No. 1 Justin Thomas. Two holes left. pic.twitter.com/d8H1RgrRVH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2018
He made it close, but @JustinThomas34 pulls it out on the 18th hole, 2-up.
JT is 1-0 on the week. pic.twitter.com/Y8R3aozNMw
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2018
