AUSTIN, Texas _ Tiger Woods got hot on the back nine at Austin Country Club and put away Patrick Cantlay Friday to earn a spot in the round of 16 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament.
Woods, the 13th seed, dispensed with Cantlay 4 and 2, sealing the win on the 16th hole. At one point, Woods was two down to Cantlay. But Woods tied the match by the 11th. He then posted three birdies and a sensational eagle on the 13th, when he holed a wedge from 82 yards.
Woods, who lost his match Friday to Brandt Snedeker, needed some help from 22-year-old Aaron Wise to make it to the weekend knockout rounds. Wise beat Snedeker 6 and 4 for his first victory on the tournament.
Woods will face Rory McIlroy Saturday morning in the round of 16. Both McIlroy and Woods said they were told their match would start at 8:30 a.m.
Later in the day, Sergio Garcia, who lives part-time in Austin, qualified for Saturday. The 2017 Masters champion lost to Patrick Reed, the defending Masters champion. But Garcia won the group thanks to Shane Lowry's 3 and 2 victory over Andrew Putman. Garcia, with two wins, was the only player in the group with multiple victories.
McIlroy is a perfect 3-0 through the tournament. He beat Matthew Fitzpatrick 4 and 2. McIlroy has been so dominant that he has yet to play the 17th hole.
The first to make Saturday's knockout round was Henrik Stenson, the 37th seed who beat Jim Furyk, 5 and 4. Furyk, who is 48 and ranked 52nd here, and Stenson were the lowest-seeded players in their group with No. 12 Jason Day and Phil Mickelson, who was 20th. Mickelson beat Day, who won the 2016 Dell Match title, on Friday.
Both Stenson and Woods are playing in their first-ever tournament in Austin.
Lucas Bjerregaard, who is seeded 50th, advanced to Saturday's round. He's the winner of the Justin Thomas group. Thomas was seeded fifth. He was a semifinalist here a year ago.
This is Bjeerregaard's first trip to Dell Match Play. His best finish this season was 12th at the Honda Classic.
England's Tyrrell Hatton made it to Saturday with his victory over Lee Westwood. Hatton, who is seeded 35th, was the third-ranked player in the group led by Xander Schauffele, who was the ninth seed.
Matt Kuchar, the 23rd seed, halved his match with No. 8 Jon Rahm. The tie was good enough for Kuchar to qualify for Saturday.
