Rory McIlroy eliminated after second defeat in three days; Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama all also eliminated.
Saturday 24 March 2018 19:10, UK
Justin Thomas and Sergio Garcia marched into the last 16 of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, where Jordan Spieth joined Rory McIlroy in the group of high-profile early exits.
Thomas - who can move to world No 1 with victory this week - thrashed Francesco Molinari 7&5 to secure top spot in Group 2, as Garcia produced a back-nine fightback to see off Xander Schauffele 3&1 and maintain his 100 per cent start.
Eight of the top 10 seeds failed to progress from the group stage, with Spieth losing a scrappy contest against Ryder Cup team-mate Patrick Reed - one of seven players to qualify with an unbeaten record.
McIlroy crashed out after being despatched 5&3 in Group 7 by Brian Harman, while Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm - last year's finalists - were both eliminated without winning a match after losing their respective dead-rubbers.
Ian Poulter, needing at least a quarter-final finish this week to have a chance of climbing into the world's top 50 and qualifying for the Masters, topped Group 9 with three wins from three after Kevin Chappell withdrew mid-round from their match.
Poulter was three up after eight holes when Chappell conceded with a back injury, while fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton also progressed after defeating Brendan Steele in a play-off.
"The form I'm in, I feel like I can really enjoy Augusta," Poulter said. "But I need to get there. Whoever I'm going to play, I'm going to have to be 100 percent focused, get the job done and obviously try and advance."
Paul Casey lost his play-off to Kyle Stanley on the second hole after being beaten by Matt Fitzpatrick in Group 10, as Louis Oosthuizen defeated Jason Day 2up and then Jason Dufner in a play-off to advance from Group 8.
Matt Kuchar fired a hole-in-one on his way to a convincing 6&4 victory over Ross Fisher, with Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Charles Howell III and Alex Noren all advancing with perfect 3-0 records.
Watch the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 2pm.
