Hideki Matsuyama routed Kevin Na 5 and 4 on Friday to advance to a knockout-stage match against world No. 1 Rory McIlroy in the Match Play Championship.
Matsuyama birdied the first hole and bogeyed his only hole of the round on the second to go all square. Back-to-back bogeys by Na on Nos. 6 and 7 handed Matsuyama a lead.
The Japanese star birdied No. 10 to go two up and reeled off three straight from No. 12 to clinch the win in 14 holes at San Francisco's TPC Harding Park.
"My iron shots were better after the turn and all of a sudden I was able to open up a lead," Matsuyama said. "I'm glad I could make it to the final stage. Overall, my shots were not so good but I was able to play well because of my putting.
"However, my tee shots were worthless. If I play the way I have been in the final stage, I'm going to be far behind early. In what little time I have I want to make an adjustment."