GULLANE, United Kingdom (AFP) - European Ryder Cup hopefuls Matthew Fitzpatrick and Chris Wood both bowed out of the Paul Lawrie Matchplay event in North Berwick, Scotland on Friday (Aug 5).

English top seed Wood went into the week inside the automatic places for Darren Clarke's team for the matches at Hazeltine in September, but suffered a surprise 2&1 defeat to compatriot and world number 444 Daniel Brooks in the second round early on Friday.

World number 46 Fitzpatrick looked in fine fettle as he brushed aside Matt Ford with five holes to play without carding a single bogey to reach round three.

But the 21-year-old, who is hanging onto the last automatic Ryder Cup spot, was dealt a heavy 4&3 loss in the last 16 by Spaniard Alejandro Canizares.

Scottish Open champion Alex Noren beat Nacho Elvira in a tight match on the 17th hole to reach the quarters and keep alive his hopes of a second title in the country in less than a month.

"I love these kind of courses and links golf," the world number 50 told the European Tour website.

"I thought we haven't played match play in so long, so I was looking forward to that as well.

"Match play is tough. I've played three good matches and I just need a lot of rest now because I can feel it in my head, it's been a long day." Tournament host Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, was edged out by Australian Richard Green on the 19th hole in the second round.

Noren is the highest-ranked player left in the draw, and he will take on fellow Swede Johan Carlsson in the last eight on Saturday.

Other quarter-final ties will see Canizares play England's James Morrison, South African Haydn Porteous up against Anthony Wall and German youngster Maximilian Kieffer face Oliver Fisher.