Max Homa advances as Hideki Matsuyama is FORCED OUT of WGC Match Play

Max Homa has advanced to the knockout stage of the WGC Match Play after his opponent Hideki Matsuyama was forced to withdraw due to a neck injury. 

Homa now moves into the knockout stage with a 3-0-0 record in Group 5. 

Matsuyama could have forced a playoff with Homa had he won their third-round match. 

Justin Suh could have also made a three-way playoff with them, but he would have needed to beat Kevin Kisner and then hope Matsuyama took down Homa. 

So the Suh vs Kisner match now becomes a dead rubber as a result of Matsuyama's WD.

Homa will now face the winner of Group 12 in Saturday morning's last 16 match. 

That is likely to be either Taylor Montgomery or Mackenzie Hughes. 

Matsuyama will now look to get a massage and get ready to compete in The Masters.

He slipped on the Green Jacket in 2021.

Shortly after news of Matsuyama's withdrawal, Will Zalatoris was also forced out. 

Matsuyama's latest WD marks the third time in four months where he's been forced out of a tournament on the PGA Tour as a result of a neck injury. 

He walked out of the Houston Open in November, and then again at Tiger Woods' Hero World Challenge.

Matsuyama is currently ranked 20th in the world but he has been fighting to find his best form through his injury troubles.

He missed the cut at both the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he did bounce back with an improved solo fifth at The Players Championship two weeks ago. 

Homa later reacted to Matsuyama's withdrawal on social media:

Just another bogey free day

— max homa (@maxhoma23) March 24, 2023

In all seriousness, this isn’t the way I wanted to make it through. I hope Hideki feels better soon. Golf is better when he’s playing well

— max homa (@maxhoma23) March 24, 2023

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