The world number five cruised to a 5 and 4 victory over the Englishman to force a playoff to determine who would advance from Group Five at the Austin Country Club.

Tying a playoff record in the current Match Play format, the two battled it out over six holes before Scheffler clinched victory with a five-footer for birdie at the par-five sixth.

Scheffler is now set to meet American Billy Horschel in a rematch of last year’s Match Play final which he lost.

"Billy is a great competitor," Scheffler said.

"He got the best of me here last year, and I got the best of him at Bay Hill.

"Should be a fun match tomorrow."

Horschel progressed from Group 12 after halving his match against Thomas Pieters of Belgium.

Playoffs were required to determine the winner of four of the 16 groups as tension increased on the third day of action in Texas.

American Will Zalatoris sealed a match win over Viktor Hovland before beating the Norwegian on the second extra hole.

The pair traded birdies on the first of those before Zalatoris added another on the next to settle the contest in Group Three.

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya emerged victorious from his playoff battle with Australian Lucas Herbert in Group Seven.

After beating Herbert by 5 and 4, Kanaya then got the better of the Australian on the first extra hole to seal his place in the last 16.

Kevin Na of the US showed nerves of steel to beat Chilean Joaquín Niemann on the final hole to set up a playoff with compatriot Maverick McNealy who defeated Russell Henley in an all-American clash in Group 14.

McNealy attempted to become only the second 64 seed to progress through the group play since the current Match Play format was introduced in 2015.

But the American came up short against Na who landed a birdie on the first extra hole to clinch a last-16 spot.

World number one Jon Rahm of Spain made it through to the knockout phase despite losing by 3 and 2 to American Patrick Reed.

Rahm, who advances from Group One with two wins and one loss, will next face four-time major winner Brooks Koepka of the US.

Koepka has been in superb form in Texas as he completed a hat-trick of victories in Group 16 with a strong performance to beat Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

World number two Collin Morikawa of the US topped Group Two after seeing off compatriot Jason Kokrak as Spaniard Sergio Garcia’s hopes of qualifying were dashed by a 4 and 2 defeat to Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

Ireland’s Seamus Power lost to American Keith Mitchell but secured top spot in Group Four after winning his two previous matches against world number four Patrick Cantlay of the US and Im Sung-jae of South Korea.

Kevin Kisner made it three wins on the spin to advance from Group Six, completing the hat-trick with a 4 and 3 triumph against fellow American Justin Thomas.

Dustin Johnson of the US also emerged victorious from Group Eight with three successive wins as he defeated compatriot Max Homa to secure the clean sweep.

Richard Bland will meet Johnson in the round of 16 after beating Lee Westwood in an all-English clash in Group Nine that was sealed with a dramatic birdie on the 17th hole.

"The messages that I get from people, all over the globe, over the last 12 months has been incredible," said the 49-year-old.

"People that you never will ever meet and they tell me their kind of story that what I've done has inspired them to carry on their journey."

Canadian Corey Conners overcame Norway’s Alex Norén by 3 and 2 to secure a third straight triumph to top Group 10.

Australia’s Adam Scott was the winner of Group 11 after seeing off American Jordan Spieth by 3 and 2 as England’s Justin Rose and American Keegan Bradley fought out a tie.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton defeated Daniel Berger of the US to advance from Group 13 with a perfect record, while Mexican Abraham Ancer got the better of American Webb Simpson to win Group 15.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the last-16 and quarter-final matches.