Sergio Garcia booked his place in the last 16 of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play after coming from behind to beat Xander Schauffele in a high-quality winner-takes-all showdown.
World Number Ten Garcia trailed by two holes at the turn despite making three birdies on the front nine as Schauffele turned on the style.
But last year's Masters Tournament winner sprang into life on the back nine, winning five holes in six from the 12th to claim a stunning 3 and 1 victory.
Garcia said: "Xander played unbelievably on the front nine in tricky conditions and he kept making good putt after good putt on me.
"So I was just hoping to stay in it and give myself some chances as soon as he gave me a little opening on 12. And then I was able to make a great birdie on 13, 15 and 16. And that kind of closed the match a little bit for me."
Dylan Frittelli beat Shubhankar Sharma by one hole in Group 7's other game.
Garcia will face Kyle Stanley on Saturday after he defeated Englishman Paul Casey in a sudden death play-off to decide the winner of Group 10.
Casey had just suffered his first defeat of the tournament so far against countryman Matthew Fitzpatrick, and with Stanley holing his eight-foot birdie putt at the last to win his encounter with Russell Henley by one hole, extra holes were required to separate the pair.
The first play-off hole was halved in fours but after Casey narrowly missed his 20-foot birdie putt at the second, American Stanley knocked his in from close range to progress.
American Justin Thomas led from start to finish as he recorded an emphatic 7 and 5 victory in his crucial Group 2 clash with Italy's Francesco Molinari.
I have had some good weeks here. But not probably as good as I should have - Sergio Garcia
Both players came into the game with 100 per cent records but Molinari was completely outclassed by his in-form opponent, who had established a five-hole lead by the turn.
And Thomas won two of the next four holes to clinch his last 16 spot at the 13th green.
Thomas said: "I feel great. It's been tough, the beginning of the week because of the throat, the wisdom teeth. So I'm just happy to get through my group more importantly than anything."
Patton Kizzire beat fellow American Luke List 4 and 2 in the other Group 2 game.
Thomas will come up against Si Woo Kim in the next round after he beat Webb Simpson by one hole in Group 15.
The other game in that group was won by Gary Woodland, who beat Pat Perez by one hole.
