FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, March 25th, 2017

NBC SPORTS GROUP NOTABLE QUOTES – WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY (QUARTERFINALS)

NBC Sports Group Notable Quotes
WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
Saturday, March 25, 2017 (Quarterfinals)
Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas

**Coverage of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play continues Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on Golf Channel with the Semifinal matches, and at 3 p.m. ET on NBC with the Finals and Consolation matches.**

WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Quarterfinals Results
(1) Dustin Johnson def. (8) Alex Noren 3&2
(54) Hideto Tanihara def. (47) Ross Fisher 4&2
(21) Jon Rahm def. (62) Soren Kjeldsen 7&5
(42) Bill Haas def. (14) Phil Mickelson 2&1

WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Semifinal Matches:
(1) Dustin Johnson vs. (54) Hideto Tanihara
(21) Jon Rahm vs. (42) Bill Haas

Jon Rahm speaking with NBC Sports’ Steve Sands following his win over Kjeldsen
John Rahm – “I can’t describe when was the last time I played a round – well I can, yeah… that back nine at Torrey Pines was pretty damn good too – but I would say since then I haven’t played 13 holes the way I’ve played today maybe ever… I missed one single shot and that was the second shot on 9. Every other single shot I’ve hit it was pretty much exactly the way I saw it. So to play golf like that and make a couple putts, it was just a perfect round.”

On Rahm
Johnny Miller – “He’s got that little drop in the slot the first movement down like Nick Price had in his hey-day. He’s a good looking player. He could be No. 1 someday.”

Dustin Johnson speaking with Sands following his win over Noren
Dustin Johnson – “Alex was a tough opponent. I was three up at the turn and lost 10, 11 and 12… It’s a long way to go. I’ve still got to make it to the finals. There’s a lot of golf tomorrow, anything can happen. I like my chances. I feel like I’m playing really well. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

On Johnson
David Feherty – “The way he’s playing, it’s just unconscious… It basically looks like he’s in a coma at times, he just looks so calm.”
Gary Koch – “We know about his length off the tee. We’ve talked about his improved wedge play. And this week he’s second in the field in strokes gained putting. That’s quite the combo.”
Miller – “Ever since he went to the fade off the tee, he has been amazing. That seems to be the shot of choice, as all the best players are going with the fade now. He could have a monster year. Just right in his prime and no weaknesses that I can tell.”
Koch – “I can’t help but think when he changed to this putter last fall during the FedExCup Playoffs, it just seems as though his short putter has gotten so much better.”

Bill Haas speaking with Sands following his win over Mickelson
Bill Haas – “Maybe I had that little bit of feeling of ‘well if you lose, at least it was to Phil Mickelson’… I really felt like I needed to capitalize when I had the chances, and I was able to do that. Something I’ll never forget playing a match against him… I’d like to find 30 more yards tonight when I’m sleeping because [Rahm] hits it a long way. If I’m gonna be shorter than him, I definitely need to be in the fairways, and then just put the pressure on him. Make him attack, as opposed to just giving him holes. He’s certainly going to be very difficult, but you never know what’s going to happen in match play.”

On Haas
Peter Jacobsen – “He did lose his first round match to Russell Knox, but he’s been solid ever since… I wouldn’t count him out. Jon Rahm has been impressive, but Bill Haas is a great player. He wants to get back on that Presidents Cup team.”
Miller – “He just seemed like he was unaffected with all the gallery pulling for Phil. Haas was really tough.”

Phil Mickelson speaking with Sands following his loss to Haas
Phil Mickelson – “Bill played some great golf. He made seven birdies and he played well enough to win the match. From my standpoint, I had opportunities to match him on a number of holes and didn’t do it. I didn’t get the putts to go this match the way I had been making them previously. To me, that was the difference… I’m playing well and I’m looking forward to these next two weeks. I’m looking forward to Houston and the Masters. For me to play my best in the Masters I feel as though I need to go to Houston. I need to be sharp and I need to be ready and get myself in contention. If I can do that, that will get me at my sharpest mentally and hopefully give me an opportunity to win the Masters.”

Hideto Tanihara speaking with Sands (via interpreter) following his win over Fisher
Hideto Tanihara – “There’s a lot more strategy and thinking in playing this kind of format… My goal was to get to the Masters, and probably top-8 would get me in, I wasn’t sure. Now in the top-4, I’m really satisfied and happy with the result.”

On Tanihara
Miller – “He’s a great putter. Putters do well in match play, that’s all there is to it.”
Dan Hicks – “He’s the Cinderella of this bracket, isn’t he?”

-NBC Sports Group-