It was bound to happen!

When Ben Crenshaw pressed the button to establish who should go up against World No. 1 Jordan Spieth, and the WGC – Dell Match-Play in Austin, Texas who do you think he was drawn to play – long-time good friend Justin Thomas in the same group.

The Spieth -v-Thomas showdown will take place Friday and was one of the most intriguing match-ups to come out of Monday night’s draw party, held in front of a live audience at the Paramount Theater in downtown Austin.

Not only are they friends, but perhaps you’ve heard of a previous match they played against each other – in 2012, when Spieth beat Thomas during the NCAA Finals.

And during the previous World Golf Championships event earlier this month at the Cadillac Championship, Spieth and Thomas joked about a bet in which the loser of their pairing in the third round would shave his head – a bet that neither player was prepared to pay off.

Justin Thomas has his mouth full in this great snap of he and Jordan Spieth but he will have his hands full Friday striving to get the better of the current World No. 1 ranked Spieth.

Earlier on Monday, Spieth and Thomas played a practice round at Austin Country Club against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker. It came down to the final hole, with Spieth sealing the bragging rights with a birdie.

It was Fowler’s first time around the course, while Spieth has played it numerous times. Asked if Spieth offered any advice, Fowler joked, “He wouldn’t talk to us.”

Hmm, this no-talking vibe seems to be becoming an epidemic.

Fowler was kidding, of course.

“Jordan definitely helped out when there was any question, kind of where to hit the ball and how to play certain holes depending on conditions,” Fowler said. “So definitely nice to get out with someone that’s been around the course quite a few times. We all had a good time out there today.”

The friendly banter will turn to more serious tones when the competition starts Wednesday. It’s the first of three 32-match days. Only one player from each of the four-man groups will emerge to start the weekend among the Sweet 16 survivors, with the championship match set for Sunday afternoon.

Spieth not only has Thomas in his group, but also Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, who lost to Jason Day in the finals of this event two years ago; and Jamie Donaldson, who helped Europe clinch the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014. Spieth will try to replicate Rory McIlroy’s performance of a year ago, as McIlroy won the event from the top overall spot.

Jason Day, who moved to No. 2 overall after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard on Sunday, faces a tough group that includes Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell, two battle-tested Europeans. The Day-McDowell match is one of the more intriguing ones on Wednesday.

McIlroy will have to get past Kevin Na, Smylie Kaufman and Thorbjorn Olesen if he wants the opportunity to defend his title this weekend. While none of those three can match his credentials, McIlroy said he will not be caught looking ahead.

“I don’t think you can,” he said. “I have to focus on my three matches, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Hopefully if I can navigate my way through them, then I’ll start to look at who my potential opponents will be for the weekend.

“Right now it’s just about concentrating on Kevin, Smylie and Thorbjorn, and trying to get past them.”

Meanwhile, Fowler will face his friend Jason Dufner in a Wednesday match. Dufner wasn’t projected to be in this event until he won earlier this year in Palm Springs, a victory that moved him inside the top 64 in the world rankings who qualify for the Dell Match Play.

Being friends should make the competition even better, Fowler said.

“The easier part is I think both Duf and I are going to go out and enjoy the matchup,” Fowler said. “We’re going to have a good time. But it’s almost more motivation, because you want to beat your friends even more. I don’t want him to have any bragging rights on me, and he doesn’t want me to have any bragging rights on him.

“It’s going to be a fun match. Obviously we’re going to bring our best golf. We’re going to go after each other, but enjoy doing it.”

Until Sunday, Phil Mickelson was one of the top 16 seeds. But when Zach Johnson finished solo fifth at Bay Hill, he moved to 14th in the world, pushing Mickelson from 16 to 17. That left Mickelson in the B pool, and his name was drawn for the Patrick Reed group that also includes Matthew Fitzpatrick and Daniel Berger.

Meanwhile, Johnson was left with a pretty salty group that includes Shane Lowry and Martin Kaymer, two players who could use big performances this week in order to move up in the Ryder Cup standings.

• Story – www.pgatour.com