Darren Clarke lost by two holes to England’s Robert Rock on Friday and faced Justin Rose in the afternoon at Finca Cortesin in Casares to remain in the Volvo World Match Play.
Rock was two holes up with two to play but Clarke birdied the 17th from five feet to stay alive in the game. However, Clarke failed to get up and down from sand on the last to lose the match. It left the Northern Irishman needing to beat Rose just to get into a play-off between the three of them to decide which two carry on in the event.
Rose crushed Rock 7&6 when they met earlier in the event.
However Justin Rose sealed Clarke's fate in the afternoon 6 & 4.
In contrast Graeme McDowell qualified for the last 16 of the World Match Play Championship before they even hit a ball on Friday.
Having grabbed a narrow victory over Robert Karlsson on Thursday, McDowell saw the Swede earn only a half with Jbe Kruger, guaranteeing a spot in the next round.
McDowell then beat Kruger 4 & 3.