Austin, TX …

Paul Casey and Ross Fisher have been left to carry British hopes into the quarter-final stage of the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in Austin, TX.

Casey admitted he played his best golf of the three-round robin matches in defeating former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel 4 & 3 while Fisher collected one the biggest scalps in disposing of USA Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk 4 & 2 on the Austin Country Club course.

Casey was one of just eight players to win all three of their matches along with World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and five-time Major winning Phil Mickelson.

Johnson, and the reigning US Open champ, faces 2015 Open Champion Zach Johnson in the Saturday round of matches.

Paul Casey seems pretty pleased with himself after winning all three robin matches 2017 WGC Dell Match Championship.

Schwartzel won the first hole against Casey but that is only time the South African was ahead in their match with Casey squaring the encounter at the fourth and then winning the fifth and then going 4up with a birdie at 14 and then winning the encounter with a par at the next.

“The vagaries of match play as I got lucky, really, on Wednesday with Joost (Luiten) and didn’t play my best golf,” he said.

“It was actually some pretty ugly stuff yesterday against Ben An. Part of that was the conditions, part of that was — well, not sure I can put my finger on it.

“Today was really good stellar stuff and it had to be because Charl had played good golf the first two days. Knowing that it was a win-or-go-home situation today, I was happy.

“To be honest it was probably the best golf I played this season. I felt happy with every club in the bag.

“I chucked a lot at him and he responded very well. He chipped in on 11 and he fought back. I played really, really good, so I’m happy with the victory.

“So, the match today against Charl was some fantastic stuff. The match play stuff I’ve not played for a long, long time, so it felt — it was good to be back on the horse.”

Casey now plays Japan’s Hideto Tanihara in one of eight Saturday quarter-final matches and with the winner to then face the winner of the Fisher versus Bubba Watson clash

Fisher secured his best finish in the 2009 event despite losing the semi-final to Casey so the Cheam golfer will naturally looking to lower the colours of the double Masters winning Watson and hope Casey does the same with his Japanese rival.

The 36-year old Fisher faced Oosthuizen in a play-off to decide who went through in their group after both players finished the round robin matches tied with two points with two wins apiece.

And after both players pared the first, Fisher claimed victory in holing his 15-foot birdie putt at the second extra hole.

“First and foremost, just playing Jim this morning, managed to play really well this morning,” he said.

“I want to say I was good few under par when I beat Jim. It was a tough game. Just really wanted to focus on my match.

“I wasn’t looking at the board to see what Louis and Hideki were doing. I actually saw at one point I think Louis was 5-up. I knew I needed to close the match out.

“The match finished on 16 and I was told I have about 25 minutes before facing Louis so I scampered to get to the first tee. Literally got to the chipping green about 20 past 3:00, managed to loosen up with a few chip shots.

“I hit a decent job down the first, didn’t quite get in the fairway. Had a gap through the trees there and hit a lovely shot in, hit a goo

Ross Fisher through to the last 16 in 2017 Dell Match-Play, (Photo – European Tour.com)

d putt. Then we both hit good drives down the second, and then I had the advantage with the second shot and then after Louis cozy it up with his third, I knew I had to knock it in. I didn’t want to go anymore holes.

“So, I was very relieved to see it drop in the middle and move on to tomorrow.”

Lee Westwood, who has contested every WGC – Dell Match-Play with the exception of one since the events inauguration in 1999, fell short of joining Casey and Fisher in losing a play-off after Australia’s Marc Leishman birdied the second extra hole.

And Tyrrell Hatton found himself slapped with a two-shot penalty after accidently hitting his ball but failing to return the ball to its original position.

Hatton had bravely fought his way into a three-man play-off when the incident happened at the first extra hole