AUSTIN, Tex. -- The scenario looked so promising when their names were drawn to play in the same group, the No. 1-ranked player in the world and his longtime friend who has been a few steps behind as their professional careers unfolded.
Jordan Spieth against Justin Thomas in match play was too good to be true, friends going back to their junior golf days, rivals in college, frequent practice round partners on the PGA Tour -- as well as occasional social media protagonists.
But the script did not hold at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship.