World number two Rory McIlroy was the first high-profile casualty after Gary Woodland withdrew from the WGC Matchplay in Austin.
McIlroy was dumped from the competition after sitting out Thursday due to Woodland withdrawing for family reasons. The Northern Irishman could only watch as Soren Kjeldsen dispatched Emiliano Grillo 4&3 to make it 2 from 2 after the Dane beat McIlroy in round one.
Kjeldsen was two down after two but won the next two in a row and turned it on after the turn where he won four holes in a row to seal the point he needed to progress.
‘Very pleased (to advance),’ said the 62-ranked player.
‘Actually, not happy about Gary and what’s going on with Gary. I don’t know all the details, but Gary is one of the nicest guys out here. So we wish him all the best.’
McIlroy will play Grillo in a dead rubber on Friday.
Jordan Spieth, needing to win to stay alive, never trailed in his match against Japan’s Yuta Ikeda. Speith tapped in for birdie on 11 and went three up before scrambling for birdie on 12 to halve with Ikeda. The 13th, the hardest hole on the course on Thursday because of the blustery conditions, saw both players make double bogey after finding the water.
Spieth prevailed 4&2 but has it all to do and needs the other result to go his way if he is to take his place in the 16-man knockout phase.
‘I’ve got to play better than I did the last two days and I know that. I’ve just got to have complete trust because why not at this point? It’s a win-or-go-home situation. Aggressive swings to the right targets,’ said Spieth.
Ryan Moore and Hideto Tanihara halved their match meaning the Japan star can progress with a win on Friday. If he halves, then Spieth must win to force a playoff but will progress if Tanihara loses and he beats countryman Moore.
