Friday 24 March 2017 19:06, UK
Rory McIlroy has been knocked out of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play with a group game to spare, despite being handed victory in his second round-robin match.
McIlroy was due to face Woodland in a repeat of the 2015 final in Texas, only to be awarded the win after the American pulled out of the tournament due to a "personal family matter".
That gave McIlroy - who lost 2&1 to Soren Kjeldsen on Wednesday - his first point in Group Two, but left him needing the Dane to lose to Emiliano Grillo to avoid an early exit.
Kjeldsen, who was due to face Woodland on Friday, recovered from a slow start to beat the South American 4&3 and ensure he would top the group to qualify for the last 16.
Woodland's management company said in a statement: "Due to a personal family matter, Gary Woodland must withdraw from the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
"We ask that you respect his family's privacy at this time."
Grillo lost 3&2 to Woodland on Wednesday but won both of his opening two holes against Kjeldsen, only for the 62nd seed to recover and reach the turn all square.
Kjeldsen moved ahead after draining a 33-footer at the 10th, as Grillo missed his birdie attempt from 10 feet, before doubling his lead at the par-three next thanks to a Grillo three-putt.
The Argentinian then found the water at the next two holes to move Kjeldsen four clear, before the Dane sealed victory with an eight-foot par putt at the 15th.
McIlroy's match against Grillo on Friday will now be a dead-rubber, with the fixture now set to be the world No 2's last competitive round before next month's Masters.
Watch the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf
