Jason Day has continued his revival by battling into the quarter-finals of the final WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, before falling agonisingly short against world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.
Hopes of two Australians featuring in the last-eight of the prestigious $US20 million ($A30m) Texan event ended when Lucas Herbert played superbly, only to be also out-duelled by Rory McIlroy in a high-quality last-16 clash.
In the afternoon session, Day held nothing back against local hero and reigning champion Scheffler, who had to win the last two holes to come from behind to beat JT Poston 1 up in his previous tie.
Day, winner of the event in his heyday in 2014 and 2016, made three birdies and an eagle in the first six holes for a 3-up lead, but as he did in the morning, Scheffler proved himself fully capable of a dynamic rally.
It began with a winning par at No.8, followed by a winning 29-foot birdie at the par-4 ninth to trail by one at the turn. The next two holes were tied with pars, before Scheffler levelled the match with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 12th.
Scheffler also birdied the par-4 13th, his two-putt par won No.14 and Day stood 2-down with two holes to play.
The Masters and Players champ sealed the deal at the short par-3 17th, stuffing a wedge to tap-in range for a conceded birdie.
"I just gave him too many cheap ones ... if I would have just putted a little bit better maybe I would have come away with a different result today," Day said.
But his result confirmed Day would return to next month's Masters, after the 2011 joint runner-up failed to qualify last year.
"I am excited to be back. The game is looking nice. There's still some stuff swing-wise that pops in every now and then ... I've just got to kind of work out those kinks," he said.
"I feel happy with where I'm at."
Scheffler will face compatriot and good friend Sam Burns in the final four after the world No.13 beat Canadian Mackenzie Hughes 3&2.
Earlier, former world No.1 Day ended the adventures of US milestone man Matt Kuchar, winning 1 up after a tight contest.
It continued the 35-year-old Queenslander's stellar form at Austin Country Club as he followed up his group victories over Adam Svensson (4&2), Frenchman Victor Perez (2&1) and two-time major winner Collin Morikawa (4&3).
Bendigo's Herbert played some tremendous golf, matching world No.3 McIlroy shot for shot over much of the morning.
He finished up six-under-par for his round but the Northern Irishman proved stronger, holing out consistently well on the home stretch and birdieing the last three holes to win 2 up.
McIlroy then ended world No.6 Xander Schauffele's hopes, winning 1 up to set up a semi-final showdown with Cameron Young, who won the all-American tie against Kurt Kitayama 1 up.
