Matsuyama pulls out of Match Play

Hideki Matsuyama withdrew from the WGC-DELL Technologies Match Play at Austin before his tee time Friday, giving Max Homa the day off and a spot in the knockout stage.

Matsuyama cited a neck injury for conceding the match against Homa. He was warming up on the range for about 20 minutes trying to get loose.

The withdrawal also knocks out Justin Suh, who would have needed to win his match against Kevin Kisner and have Matsuyama beat Homa to reach a playoff to decide the group winner.

Matsuyama has only reached the weekend of Match Play one time in eight appearances.

On Thursday, Rory Mcilroy clinched a 2-up victory over Denny Mccarthy as Mcilroy led a parade of top seeds into the final round of group play at Austin Country Club.

“It was good,” Mcilroy said with a smile, which was like saying Michelangelo did a good job on the Sistine Chapel.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler had seven birdies in a ninehole stretch in the middle of his match against Alex Noren for a 5and-4 victory.

Patrick Cantlay (4), Homa (5) and Xander Schauffele (6) also won their matches as four of the top six seeds took a 2-0 record into Friday in a bid to win their group and advance to the knockout stage.

Jordan Spieth, a crowd favorite in Austin, would need to beat Shane Lowry and have Mackenzie Hughes beat Taylor Montgomery to advance.

Three share lead at LPGA’S 1st full-field event:

Alison Lee and Jenny Shin each reeled off four straight birdies in the middle of their rounds and joined Gaby Lopez at 7-under 65 Thursday to share a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Drive on Championship at Gold Canyon, Ariz. Bachem ahead by one at Johannesburg: Nick Bachem led at the halfway stage of the European tour’s Jonsson Workwear Open at Johannesburg on Friday after a second-round 66 took him one shot clear at 13 under par.