Ross Fisher defeated last season's beaten finalist Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off to move into the last 16 at the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club.
Both men entered day three knowing wins would set up an all European Tour head-to-head in Group 4 and duly delivered, beating Jim Furyk and Hideki Matsuyama respectively.
A birdie on the second play-off hole was enough to hand Fisher the victory and a clash against two-time Masters Tournament winner Bubba Watson.
Hideto Tanihara beat fellow Japanese Yuta Ikeda 3 and 1 in Group 5 and he will take on Paul Casey in the next round.
Furyk came into the third round of matches looking like the favourite to qualify from Group 4 but was beaten 4 and 2 by Fisher.
The Englishman made three birdies in his first five holes and while Furyk won three holes of his own, the result was rarely genuinely in doubt, even when the US Ryder Cup Captain holed out from 83 yards on the 13th.
"I kind of wanted to close the game out early with Jim this morning so I had a bit of energy for the play-off," said Fisher. "Obviously was a delighted to get through that.
"I can't rest now. I've got a big game tomorrow against Bubba. He's obviously playing well. It's going to be a lot of fun, looking forward to it. It's going to be a challenge."
Oosthuizen lost the first hole to Matsuyama but a birdie-par-birdie run put him two up before he made further birdies on the sixth and eighth. A concession on the ninth put him five up at the turn and while the Japanese did win another hole, he was eventually beaten 6 and 4.
Tanihara was a shock winner over Jordan Spieth on day one but after Thursday's results, a four-way play-off was still very much a possibility.
The debutant avoided that, however, with four birdies in a row from the third helping put him three up at the turn. Ikeda twice pegged him back in a classy effort that saw him record a single double-bogey and two birdies but he could not keep pace with his countryman.
"I knew I had to win to get through, so I just needed to play really well today," said Tanihara. "I like playing against people who are good and it's really enjoyable. I'm just glad that I'm playing really well and moving forward."
It's going to be a lot of fun, looking forward to it. It's going to be a challenge - Ross Fisher
In the other Group 5 clash, Jordan Spieth and Ryan Moore finished all square.
Charl Schwartzel faced a winner-takes-all clash against Casey in Group 12 but was beaten 4 and 3, while Joost Luiten beat Byeong-hun An one up in the dead rubber.
Thomas Pieters had a chance to progress from Group 13 with a win but halved with Watson, while Jhonattan Vegas beat Scott Piercy 3 and 1.
In the other half of the draw, Alex Noren - who sealed victory in Group 8 on Thursday after Francesco Molinari's withdrawal - will face Brooks Koepka.
The American maintained his 100 per cent record in Group 9 with a one up victory over Patrick Reed, while Kevin Kisner beat Jason Dufner 2 and 1.
Bernd Wiesberger birdied his last two holes to overcome Thongchai Jaidee one up in Group 8.
World Number One Dustin Johnson continued his serene progress in Group 1 with a 5 and 3 win over Jimmy Walker, while Martin Kaymer beat Webb Simpson 3 and 2.
Johnson will next face Zach Johnson, a one up winner over Brendan Steele in Group 16, where Tommy Fleetwood was beaten 4 and 2 by Matt Kuchar.
