McIlroy survives as big names reach last 16 at Match Play

Omnisports

March 26, 2016 12:28 AM

Rory McIlroy survived sudden death to advance at the WGC-Dell Match Play as Jordan Spieth and Jason Day joined him in the last 16.

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Defending champion McIlroy halved his match against American Kevin Na at the Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas on Friday.

The duo went to sudden death and a bogey at the second hole proved costly for Na, who finished second to McIlroy in Group 3.

Spieth completed a perfect three from three in Group 1 with a 3 and 2 win against Justin Thomas.

Spieth was 4 up through nine and, while Thomas briefly fought back, the world number one claimed victory.

Day also had three wins, but he only played six holes against Paul Casey before the Englishman withdrew due to illness.

Along with McIlroy, An Byeong-hun, Dustin Johnson and Chris Kirk needed to get through sudden death to progress.

A birdie on the first hole against Kiradech Aphibarnrat saw Johnson advance, while An produced the same to get past Scott Piercy.

A par was enough for Kirk after Branden Grace bogeyed their first hole.

Patton Kizzire won for the first time this tournament, beating Emiliano Grillo 2-up, and that was enough for him to advance after being undefeated.

American Bill Haas eliminated the in-form Adam Scott with a 1-up victory in a tight match.

Matt Kuchar enjoyed a 3 and 2 win against Justin Rose to progress from Group 7, while a 5 and 4 victory for Patrick Reed over Phil Mickelson saw him stay perfect.

Zach Johnson also made it three from three with a 4 and 3 win against Shane Lowry, while Brooks Koepka, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker and Louis Oosthuizen also advanced.

Omnisports

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