Austin, Texas, March 29: Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand bowed out of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play on Friday, losing two-up to Scotsman Russell Knox in a match which proved inconsequential.

With Australia’s Marc Leishman easily securing a third straight win against American Bryson DeChambeau in the group to progress into the Round of 16 at Austin Country Club, Kiradech was left to pick up the pieces of a campaign which gave him plenty to think about as he prepares to head into the year’s first major, the Master Tournament in two weeks’ time.

“My short game is so bad. I can’t get up-and-down from any par-five. It’s quite disappointing this week. No birdies and then chipped in the water on 12 and make a seven to lose the hole. It’s a turnaround. And I didn’t have any confidence around the greens. I have a lot of work to do,” said Kiradech, who made it into the quarterfinals here last year.

He will take the next two weeks off to sharpen his game which has proven to be inconsistent in his first full season on the PGA TOUR. Last month, he finished tied-third at the WGC-Mexico Championship but the Thai star has missed numerous cuts as well which has left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I still have to work on my game a little bit. I’m not far off,” he said. “It’s some technique which is not right. I’ve been struggling for last two or three years. Not chipping as well as I used to do. I still have to work.

“It’s been up-and-down. I mean, I miss a lot of cuts this year. I hope I can do better but first year on the TOUR is always a struggle I guess. I just want to go again and try to get my best form back. Doing the same thing – practicing hard and playing well and hopefully I just get what I used to do,” he said.

China’s Haotong Li admitted he got ‘lucky’ as he progressed into the Round of 16 after prevailing with a three-foot birdie on the first extra hole against Sweden’s Alex Noren to emerge as the lone Asian to advance into the weekend play.

“The whole day was just like a roller coaster,” said a relieved Li.

“And I didn’t play solid. I was a little bit off with my tee shots and I think that was it. And on my final hole on 18, I was just a little bit nervous and hit it a little soft and it didn’t get enough break. Hands were a little bit tight. I felt like if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, just play good the next time.”

Li split the fairway with a solid drive in the playoff hole against Noren, whom he had beaten five and four on Wednesday, and then fired a superb wedge approach shot to three feet of the pin to secure his place in the last 16 against last year’s runner-up Kevin Kisner, who edged out Ian Poulter in another play-off to advance.

“I got lucky here (in the playoff) … honestly. I hit it a little thin and as soon as I saw that bounce, I was like, ‘God! Thanks’. I am so thankful for everything,” said Li, who lost his three group matches in his debut last year.

With a knock-out Round of 16 match against Kisner on Saturday morning, the Chinese rising star, who is a two-time European Tour winner and Presidents Cup International Team hopeful, knows he must power-up again overnight to have a chance of extending his magical run at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

“I felt like I ran out of all the energy already. I need to get something, recover and let’s see what we can do tomorrow. Hopefully I can win a few more matches,” he said.

As one in a series of four World Golf Championships events sanctioned and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play is one of the most exciting and biggest events on golf’s calendar.