Defending champion Jason Day and former world No.1 Adam Scott have been eliminated from contention at the World Golf Championships in San Francisco.
Scott was beaten 1-up by England’s Paul Casey and defending champion Day hammered 4&3 by South African Branden Grace on day two and both have fallen to 0-2 in pool play and cannot make the round of 16.
The news was much better for John Senden who has already clinched a spot in the next round to be played on Saturday ahead of his day three pool match after a clinical 4&3 demolition job of Bill Haas.
A day after dispatching world No.3 Henrik Stenson in 19 holes, Senden overcame an early deficit against Haas and pulled away with wins on the 11th, 13th, and 14th holes before closing it out on 15.
Marc Leishman maintained his good form by seeing off American 22nd seed Ryan Palmer 4&3.
He’ll now face India’s Anirban Lahiri on Friday knowing victory will guarantee him a place in the last 16.
Matt Jones prevailed two-up against Frenchman Victor Dubuisson to keep his slim chances alive.
Now 1-1 with all members of his pool, Jones can sneak into the weekend play if he beats Charl Schwartzel tomorrow and Dustin Johnson loses to Dubuisson.
Johnson holds the tiebreaker over Jones having beaten him on day one.
Leading 1-up after 12 holes Scott was left to rue another poor putting display, making bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes to give Casey the lead.
When he bogeyed the 16th the Australian was on the ropes at two-down with two to play and although Casey gave him a life with bogey on the 17th Scott couldn’t extend the match on 18.
His 13-foot birdie chance on the final green petered out of speed like so many before it condemning him to a match against Chris Kirk that is only relevant to the American, who is 1-1.
Day lost his opening two holes and was chasing his tail for the remainder of the match against Grace.
At 3-down through five he faced a tough ask and while he fought back to be just one down after 10 holes the world No.7 lost 11 and 12 to knock the wind out of his sails.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy improved to 2-0 with a 2-up win over Brandt Snedeker setting up a winner take all match with Billy Horschel on Friday.
