World number three Rory McIlroy was battling to keep his defence of the WGC-Dell Match Play title alive on Friday in a winner-takes-all clash with American Kevin Na in Texas.
McIlroy, who has never successfully defended a tournament in his professional career, found himself two down after five holes at Austin Country Club as he looked to secure the win which would take him into the last 16.
The four-time major winner lost the second after running up a double bogey and then saw Na hole from inside three feet to birdie the fifth, but bounced back with a birdie on the seventh and then holed from 68 feet on the ninth to get back on level terms.
68 feet ... Sixty. Eight. Feet.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 25, 2016
What a putt by Rory. #QuickHits https://t.co/GyeOhreDse
Having lost the tenth, a 32-footer for a two at the 11th brought McIlroy back to all-square again.
Rory is making these putts look like layups.#QuickHits https://t.co/33IWwIRzIW
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 25, 2016
Both players had won their opening two matches in group three, with McIlroy's hard-fought wins over Thorbjorn Olesen and Smylie Kaufman extending his unbeaten run in the event to nine matches, four shy of Tiger Woods' record of 13 straight between 2003 and 2005.
Open champion Zach Johnson looked set to become the first player to advance to the knockout stages as he closed in on a third win in group 14, the world number 15 moving five up after 10 holes against Ireland's Shane Lowry, who had already been eliminated.
And Johnson's fellow American Matt Kuchar was also on course for the victory he needed to reach the last 16, moving two up on England's Justin Rose after six holes of their match in group seven.
