Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Reed have all exited the WGC Match Play before Friday’s final round.

Only two players, Alex Noren and Soren Kjeldsen, have booked their place in the knockout phase, while big-hitting duo Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka are well-placed going into the final round of group play.

McIlroy was sent packing after Gary Woodland became the second player to withdraw from the event. His exit came 24 hours after Jason Day left to be with his mother who faces surgery for lung cancer.

South African angle

Jim Furyk beat Louis Oosthuizen and now holds the ace in Group 4. He will progress if he halves with Fisher. Oosthuizen must beat eliminated Hideki Matsuyama to stand any chance of advancing. If the South African wins and Furyk halves, they will meet in a playoff.

Group 12 features a showdown between Paul Casey and Charl Schwartzel. Both have a 100% record, meaning the winner takes all on Friday.

Branden Grace’s great run in match play events came to halt when he lost to William McGirt. The American will go through if he wins or halves with Andy Sullivan. Grace must beat Brandt Snedeker and hope Sullivan can do the business if he wants to play on the weekend.

Guaranteed to advance

Alex Noren (8), Soren Kjeldsen (62)

Guaranteed at least a playoff

Dustin Johnson (1), Tyrrell Hatton (10), Bubba Watson (13), Phil Mickelson (14), Brooks Koepka (20), Kevin Na (46), William McGirt (48), Pat Perez (56), K.T. Kim (64)

Eliminated

Rory McIlroy (2), Jason Day (3), Hideki Matsuyama (4), Patrick Reed (9), Danny Willett (11), Matt Kuchar (16), Francesco Molinari (25), Emiliano Grillo (26), J.B. Holmes (31), Gary Woodland (33), Bernd Wiesberger (36), Kevin Chappell (38), Scott Piercy (39), Jeunghun Wang (40), Byeong Hun An (45), Chris Wood (49), Andy Sullivan (52), Shane Lowry (53), Thongchai Jaidee (57), Webb Simpson (58), Jason Dufner (59), Joost Luiten (60) and Si Woo Kim (63)