Jon Rahm eased into the knockout phase of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play following a dominant 6 and 4 victory over fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia in their Group 7 finale at Austin Country Club.
Heading into the competition, Garcia was complimentary about his compatriot's playing ability and had hoped to face each other during the latter stages of the competition.
However, Monday's draw pitted the two together and after the duo remained undefeated in their first two round robin matches, they went toe to toe in a winner takes all contest to advance to the last 16 on Saturday, with Rahm coming out on top.
The duo halved the opening two holes before the 22 year old took the initiative with his first birdie at the third after sinking a 12-foot putt.
Rahm extended the lead at the next to two up following a Garcia bogey but the World Number Ten pulled one back with his first birdie at the fifth before both players parred the next three holes.
Rahm doubled his advantage just before the turn on the ninth when he carded his second birdie of the round followed by another gain at the tenth to put him three up.
A 352-yard drive helped Rahm earn another birdie on the 12th to extend his lead to four up before Garcia bogeyed the next to leave the World Number 25 dormie five and he sealed the win with a wonderful approach at the 14th, which landed four feet from the pin for a concession.
Rafa Cabrera Bello ensured at least one more hole of golf this week after he forced a play-off with Tyrrell Hatton following a 2 and 1 win over the Englishman.
Hatton only needed a half to progress from Group 10 after winning his first two round robin matches but he came unstuck against the Spaniard in the decider.
Cabrera Bello traded the first two holes following a birdie-bogey start before he regained the lead at the fifth with an approach which stuck to five feet for his second birdie of the day.
Hatton carded his first gain of the day on the par three seventh with a monster 30 foot putt to return to all square but Cabrera Bello restored his one hole advantage with another birdie at the ninth before the 25 year old restored parity with an approach to concession range at the 12th.
A birdie for Cabrera Bello at the 13th put him back ahead and he doubled his lead at the 15th with a fantastic approach to two feet for his sixth gain of the round to see off the victory
The Cabrera Bello win opened the door for Charles Howell III and he will join the two European Tour Members for a three-way play-off after he secured a 2 and 1 success over Jeunghun Wang in the other Group 10 clash.
Branden Grace's hopes of making the weekend were ended as Brandt Snedeker came away victorious with a 5 and 4 win in their Group 15 contest.
