Rory McIlroy and Lucas Herbert to meet in last 16 at Austin Country Club

Rory McIlroy will meet Lucas Herbert in the last 16 of the 2023 WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play after both players maintained their 100 per cent records with impressive victories on Friday.

World Number Three McIlroy beat Keegan Bradley in a repeat of their 2012 Ryder Cup singles clash, winning 3&2 at Austin Country Club to top Pool 3.

Australian Herbert, meanwhile, held off a fightback from Ben Griffin to win 3&1 and secure his third successive victory.

Northern Irishman McIlroy got off to a lightning-quick start in Friday's final group match, going 3UP in the first seven holes to pile the pressure on American Bradley.

The four-time Major Champion produced a great escape after finding the water on the par-five 12th, getting up and down to tie the hole and remain three clear.

Bradley reduced the deficit to two with a birdie on the 13th before McIlroy was denied the chance to bounce straight back by a horseshoe on the 14th.

But a delightful approach into the 15th saw him go 3UP once more to guarantee his progress.

He said: "Another great day where I struck the ball well and got up early, kept the pressure on Keegan. 

"It was nice to get through to the weekend.

"I missed a couple of short ones out there later on in the day, but I was really pleased with how I putted at the start of the match. I holed some nice putts.

"That's the only thing, I would say, is just sort of tidying up there and trying to feel a little more solid with the putting. The rest of the game feels in really good shape."

Herbert also started brightly in his Pool 14 meeting with Griffin, winning four of the first eight holes without reply to build up a healthy cushion.

American Griffin hit back, cutting his lead to one with three holes remaining - but Herbert dug deep and won the next two to close out a hard-fought victory.

After curling in a tricky 20-foot putt at the 16th to secure the half-point he needed to book his place in the knockout phase, Herbert celebrated on the green with a series of fist pumps.

He said: "That secured at least a half-point. That was the biggest thing there. 

"When you're 4UP through eight and the lead is slowly just being eaten and you're 1UP, you want to get yourself in a position where you can't lose.

"Just to turn the momentum like that with that putt, yeah, I think maybe winning in Dubai I yelled pretty hard, but that was probably the second loudest yell I've ever made after holing a putt!"

Speaking about Saturday's mouth-watering encounter with McIlroy, Herbert added: "I'm sure that won't be an easy match.

"Look, it's going to be a lot of fun. I've only played with Rory once. I played with him on Saturday in Phoenix.

"He's a great player. If he turns up with his A game I think I'm in a lot of trouble. But if he doesn't, I'm looking for the fight.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a fun challenge all the way."

Meanwhile, J.J. Spaun overcame Min Woo Lee in a close match to set up a last-16 clash with Xander Schauffele.