SAN FRANCISCO, California — World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Jordan Spieth won their matches Thursday to set up mouth-watering showdowns for a place in the last-16 at the WGC-Match Play Championship. McIlroy took care of Brandt Snedeker 2-up to set up a grudge match with FedExCup champion Billy Horschel as the American won 3&2 over Jason Dufner to leave both men 2-0 in group play heading into Friday's head-to-head at TPC Harding Park. World No. 2 Spieth was too good for fellow American Matt Every 4&3 leaving him with a do-or-die clash with England's 26th seed Lee Westwood. McIlroy seemed comfortably in control of the match at 2-up through 10 holes but Snedeker rallied with birdies on 11 and 12 to square the match. McIlroy wrestled the lead back with a birdie on the 15th before closing it out on the 18th hole. Spieth has continued his hot form with the putter from his Masters triumph but knew it would count for nought if he could not back it up against Westwood. World No. 4 Bubba Watson made light work of fellow major winner Keegan Bradley 4&2 to set up a meeting with the man he conquered in a playoff to win the 2012 Masters, South African Louis Oosthuizen. Oosthuizen, a former British Open champion won 2-up against Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez. American Rickie Fowler and Australian John Senden clinched spots in the round of 16 ahead of day three matches thanks to other results in their pools. Fowler was a 1-up winner over Ireland's Shane Lowry while Senden took down former FedExCup champion Bill Haas 4&3 a day after upsetting world No. 3 Henrik Stenson in 19 holes. Among the 22 with no chance to advance are Stenson, defending champion Australian Jason Day, former world No. 1 Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, Ian Poulter and major winners Graeme McDowell, Bradley and Dufner. Inkster shares lead Juli Inkster, inspired by a pre-tournament dinner with former US president George W. Bush, surged into a three-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the North Texas Shootout Thursday. The 54-year-old compiled six birdies to join fellow Americans Cristie Kerr and Sydnee Michaels at five-under-par 66 at the Las Colinas Country Club in Irving. It was a dismal day for world No. 1 Lydia Ko, however. The 18-year-old stumbled to a four-over 75 and is in danger of missing an LPGA cut for the first time. The Kiwi will donate any prize money accrued this week to the Nepal earthquake relief fund, but will need a strong second round simply to make the cut. — Agencies
