Alex Noren advanced to the last 16 after he came out on top of the all European Tour Members group after another strong performance on day two of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club.
The Swede produced a winning start on day one following his 3 and 2 success over Thongchai Jaidee and he maintained that terrific form with a 4 and 2 win over Bernd Wiesberger, who also won on Wednesday.
A blemish from Wiesberger on the second gave Noren the advantage before a bogey on the next secured the 34 year old a two up lead after the Austrian found the greenside bunker and the water for a triple bogey seven.
Wiesberger's tee-shot at the fourth went out of bounds to put Noren three up through four holes and the World Number 11 extended that lead further at the sixth when he carded his first birdie of the round but returned to three up following a double-bogey on the seventh.
A birdie from the World Number 40 reduced the gap back to two up but Noren nudged further in front with his second gain of the round on the par five 12th before sealing victory.
“My putting was better today,” he said. “He's a good player and you never know when he's going to make a lot of birdies. It's nice to get the win. It was really tough conditions.”
Noren's place in the knockout stages was secured after Francesco Molinari withdrew through injury following his 5 and 3 defeat to Jaidee in the other Group 8 match, meaning the Swede would collect his third point from their scheduled match on Friday.
A birdie on the first put Jaidee one up before he doubled his advantage after the Italian bogeyed the second, with further blemishes at the fifth and sixth from Molinari handing the Thai player a comfortable four up lead.
Jaidee added back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth to extend the gap to six up at the turn and despite Molinari pulling a shot back with his first gain of the match on the 13th and another on the 14th when the Jaidee's tee shot went out of bounds, the World Number 63 eased to his first win of the tournament.
It's nice to get the win. It was really tough conditions - Alex Noren
“I played great today,” Jaidee said. “There's no complaint at all. I really enjoy playing match play.”
Tommy Fleetwood failed to back up his one up win over Zach Johnson yesterday after Brendan Steele sealed a one up victory in their Group 16 encounter.
Johnson, fresh from his final hole defeat to the Englishman, hit back to eliminate Matt Kuchar after a two up success in the other Group 16 contest to leave himself and Fleetwood on one win from their two matches, with Steele a further half a point ahead in the group.
In Group 1, Martin Kaymer struggled against World Number One Dustin Johnson as the American made it two wins from two following his 3 and 2 victory, while Webb Simpson was eliminated from the tournament after a 3 and 2 defeat at the hands of Jimmy Walker.
Patrick Reed was knocked out after fellow American Kevin Kisner won one up in their Group 9 tie, while Brooks Koepka made it two 6 and 5 wins from his two matches with victory over Jason Dufner in their Group 9 clash.
