Louis Oosthuizen, one of three South Africans in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play field, lost his second round encounter when he was beaten 3&2 by American veteran Jim Furyk.
Oosthuizen, seeded 23, had won his opening day game in Group 4, but was always chasing things against Furyk, in a tough group that includes Hideki Matsuyama (No4) and Ross Fisher (No47).
Matsuyama lost 2&1 to Fisher, which ironically was a good result for Oosthuizen as no player in Group 4 is unbeaten.
Oosthuizen bogeyed the second hole to go one down and he was never allowed back into it. He conceded the hole at the third to go two down. Both parred the par-three fourth amd both made birdie at the fifth hole.
Still two holes down, the South African made bogey at the par-five sixth hole to go three holes down. Oosthuizen rallied to be one down after nine holes and then made a birdie at the 10th to ignite his chances and go all square with eight holes to play, but a bogey on the par-three 11th was the beginning of the end as he lost three holes in a row.
Eventually, a Furyk birdie on No16 sealed matters with the group now delicately poised.
The Presidents Cup captain will advance with a win meaning Oosthuizen will be hoping Ross Fisher gets it done and that he can beat a struggling Matsuyama.
Branden Grace is in a similar position after winning on Wednesday before going down 2&1 to William McGirt.
Grace faces Brandt Snedeker needing a win and McGirt to lose to advance.
There was some good news though from the South Africans in Austin with Charl Schwartzel making it two from two.
Schwartzel easily saw off Joost Luiten and faces Paul Casey in a winner takes all encounter on Friday. Both players are undefeated and showing good form as they look to book a place in the last 16.
