On a day when several big names tumbled in the opening session of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play, Jordan Spieth took care of Finland's Mikko Ilonen 4 and 2.
The Masters champion closed out the last player into the field with a birdie at the 16th hole and will take on Matt Every on Thursday. Every lost his opening match to Lee Westwood 1-up.
"I didn't strike the ball particularly well at Hilton Head a couple of weeks ago, so I put in some work at the end of the week with my instructor at home,'' Spieth said. "It was a solid round, one bogey and I think (seven) birdies. I would certainly take it the rest of the week.''
Spieth, ranked second in the world, put himself in a stronger position to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament that begins Saturday.