Jon Rahm was engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle in his semi-final against Bill Haas at the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play as World Number One Dustin Johnson continued his remarkable run of form at Austin Country Club.
Both Rahm and Johnson came into the final day in Texas with 100 per cent records and while Rahm was all square against Haas at the turn in the first semi-final, Johnson had moved three up against Hideto Tanihara after seven holes in the other half f the draw.
Johnson was seeking a second consecutive World Golf Championships victory after his win in Mexico earlier in the month while Rahm - who finished in a tie for third at that event - was looking for a first European Tour win just 26 days after joining.
Tanihara has been one of the stars of the week at his debut in the event but was in danger of being blown away by a Johnson in imperious form.
In the first semi-final, Rahm was a roll from winning the first but the opening two holes were halved in pars before Haas rolled in a 40-footer on the third to move one up.
Haas applied more pressure by putting his tee-shot to three feet on the fourth but Rahm responded from 20 feet and when he put his approach on the next to three feet, the match was all square.
A third birdie in a row on the sixth took Rahm ahead for the first time but when he found a bunker off the tee on the seventh, Haas hit back.
There seemed to be some nerves from Tanihara as he sent his tee-shot a long way right on the first but it made little difference as Johnson rolled in a 25-footer to make it six birdies and six wins on the opener this week.
A poor approach to the second resulted in a Johnson three-putt and an all square match but a par on the next despite taking a drop off the tee edged him back ahead.
Johnson then made a mockery of the par five sixth, hitting a 210-yard eight iron to 35 feet and holing the eagle putt to move two up, and a birdie on the next put him in control.
