World Match Play Championship: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy advance

Scottie Scheffler shakes hands with Tom Kim — Scottie Scheffler ensured he is one of the 16 group winners to reach the weekend's knockout stage

World number one Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy both progressed to the knockout stage at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship with perfect records in Austin, Texas.

American Scheffler beat Tom Kim 3&2 to win his third successive match and top Group One as he reached the last 16.

Third-ranked McIlroy won 3&2 against Group Three opponent Keegan Bradley.

However, England's US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is out, as is Spanish world number two Jon Rahm.

Fitzpatrick lost his must-win match against Sahith Theegala 2&1 - although ultimately that did not matter as J.J Spaun beat Min Woo Lee 2&1 to win his third successive match in Group 11.

Rahm, who also needed to win his final match, saw his hopes ended in a 5&4 loss to Group Two winner Billy Horschel.

Meanwhile, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth fell to a 2&1 defeat by already eliminated former Open champion Shane Lowry.

Canada's Mackenzie Hughes thrashed Taylor Montgomery 6&4 to set up a play-off with the American in Group 12, which he won to top Spieth's group.

Fourth-ranked Patrick Cantlay was another to end the group stage with a clean-sweep of wins, beating Brian Harman 2&1, as did fellow American Max Homa.

Homa was the first player to secure his place in the knockout stage on Friday and he did so without hitting a shot, after opponent Hideki Matsuyama was forced to withdraw with a neck injury.

Matt Kuchar is on the verge of history, with his 7&6 win over Kim Si-woo tying him level with Tiger Woods for the most wins (36) in the event's history.

England's Tyrrell Hatton suffered a third straight defeat, losing 3&2 to Russell Henley, while compatriot Tommy Fleetwood's challenge was ended by Im Sung-jae 4&3.