AUSTIN, Texas – Golf actually doesn’t do head-to-head match united states very well. You’re competing against the path, you’re competing against yourself, but rarely do you get a danger to go mano-a-mano. That’s what makes the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play so compelling and why expert golf’s model of bracketology may be so pleasing.
Group 1
Dustin Johnson vs. Chez Reavie. The global No. 1 may have the clearest course to the weekend. As chalk is going, it’s tough to assume the 2017 WGC-Match Play champion is losing any of those suits—pencil DJ in for a weekend tee time.
Hideki Matsuyama vs. Branden Grace. The South African seems to have the first-class threat to derail Johnson’s title hopes to have long past 5-zero-zero on the 2015 Presidents Cup, but Matsuyama has published some solid outcomes with three pinnacle-10 finishes this season.
Group 2
Justin Rose vs. Emiliano Grillo. Rose is something of an enigma on this year’s subject. His play in the final 12 months has been nothing short of superb. However, his record inside the WGC-Match Play has been underwhelming, with just a single experience to the Sweet sixteen in 11 appearances.
Gary Woodland vs. Eddie Pepperell. Pepperell’s play and persona have been endearing this season. However, Woodland was constructed for this format, not to say this golf route, and he completed runner-up on the ’15 WGC-Match Play.
Group 3
Brooks Koepka vs. Tom Lewis. This must be a clear course to the weekend for the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year. However, this season’s play has been inconsistent, together with his most effective top-10 finish, a runner-up showing on the Honda Classic. Each of his warring parties in group play is sneaky precise at this layout. This can be a bracket buster.
Alex Noren vs. Haotong Li. Noren, superior to Sunday in his final, begins at the WGC-Match Play; however, following lower back-to-again ignored cuts, that run is probably over this week.
Group 4
Rory McIlroy vs. Luke List. Calling this the upset unique on Day 1 with List, who’s the ultimate man in the discipline at 69th within the international, poised to stun the Northern Irishman, who’s playing better than each person else inside the global in the interim. Remember while the University of Maryland Baltimore County beat Virginia within the first round of closing year’s NCAA Tournament? Yeah, something like that.
Matthew Fitzpatrick vs. Justin Harding. Fitzpatrick spends a good amount of time with McIlroy in south Florida, and given his play these days, which incorporates a runner-up finish at Bay Hill, he has the appearance of a Sweet sixteen special.
Group 5
Justin Thomas vs. Lucas Bjerregaard. Thomas advanced to the Final Four at the final 12 months’ WGC-Match Play and is easy-favored to emerge from this institution. However, Bradley might be a hard fit up on Day three.
Keegan Bradley vs. Matt Wallace. Although Bradley has never had plenty of fulfillment at this event, his recreation has gradually lower back over the past 12 months, and Wallace may be making his first start at the WGC-Match Play.
Group 6
Bryson DeChambeau vs. Russell Knox. This is DeChambeau’s debut inside the WGC-Match Play, and, if we’re honest, he didn’t exactly impress in the final yr’s Ryder Cup. His in shape play IQ might be examined, specifically through a veteran like Leishman on Friday.
Marc Leishman vs. Kiradech Aphibarnrat. The Australian has by no means lost a singles suit in three begins in the Presidents Cup, and he’s superior to the Sweet sixteen two times in five starts offevolved at the WGC-Match Play. The wise men in Las Vegas could name Leishman a good-looking wager.
Group 7
Francesco Molinari vs. Satoshi Kodaira. If you pay attention carefully, you could nonetheless listen to the chants from the European trustworthy, “Frankie . . . Frankie, Frankie.” Molinari emerged as a fit play magician at the final 12 months’ Ryder Cup and has carried that shape over this season together with his victory at Bay Hill earlier this month.
Webb Simpson vs. Thorbjorn Olesen. This would be a toss-up if now not for Simpson’s enjoyment in this format. He’s playing his seventh WGC-Match Play this week, and Kodaira’s latest play includes an overlooked cut and a tie for forty-first at The Players, as his great displaying this yr at the PGA Tour.
Group 8
Jon Rahm vs. Si Woo Kim. His selection-making at The Players apart, Rahm ought to be capable of managing this group, even though his Day 2 fit up with Holmes should be worth the price of admission on a path that rewards competitive play.
Matt Kuchar vs. J.B. Holmes. Kuchar is probably gambling the satisfactory golfing his career, and Holmes is sparkling off his victory in Los Angeles. Expect this healthy to go the space.
Group 9
Xander Schauffele vs. Lee Westwood. Although the Englishman is a match play veteran and has rediscovered his ball-putting, he could have difficulty in opposition to Schauffele, who will be capable of overpowering Austin Country Club.
Rafa Cabrera Bello vs. Tyrrell Hatton. The Spaniard has a chip on his shoulder after no longer being named a pick for the last 12 months’ European Ryder Cup crew, and this week is an ideal chance to expose his in-shape play prowess. His Friday match towards Schauffele could be a need to watch.
Group 10
Paul Casey vs. Abraham Ancer. After defending his name remaining week at the Valspar Championship, Casey, a two-time runner-up at the WGC-Match Play, is in a set that should offer him a clean route to the weekend.
Cameron Smith vs. Charles Howell III. Howell’s consistency is hard to conquer in in-shape play, and he’s advanced to the Sweet 16 in the closing years. His Day 2 suit against Casey will likely determine this institution.
Group 11
Tommy Fleetwood vs. Ben An. Expect Fleetwood to preserve his notable shape play shape following his successful debut at the final 12 months’ Ryder Cup. He won’t have Molinari via his facet this time; however, he ought to be capable of enhancing.
Louis Oosthuizen vs. Kyle Stanley. If everybody on this group goes to forestall Fleetwood, Oosthuizen, who completed runner-up at the ’16 WGC-Match Play and changed into 2d to Casey final week at the Valspar Championship. His Friday healthy with Fleetwood could be significant.
Group 12
Jason Day vs. Jim Furyk. Going with the “organization of demise” here and a Day 1 disillusioned of the Australian with the aid of the 48-12 months-old Furyk, who completed runner-up at The Players and become in the mix at the Valspar Championship before struggling to a final seventy-four.
Phil Mickelson vs. Henrik Stenson. This may be a rematch of the duo’s duel on the 2016 Open Championship, even though nor is playing their fine in the interim. Depending on the pleasant of play, this will be Day 1’s maximum compelling fit.
Group 13
Tiger Woods vs. Aaron Wise. This appears sneaky good for Woods on paper. None of the three players in his institution have received because Tiger did at closing year’s Tour Championship and Wise, gambling in his first Match Play, has by no means even been paired with Woods.
Patrick Cantlay vs. Brandt Snedeker. The actual undertaking for Woods maybe who amongst those two emerges. Cantlay is a quietly dogged player, and Snedeker is usually tough to conquer when setting well.
Group 14
Tony Finau vs. Keith Mitchell. Both players carry an energy game. This is perfect for Austin Country Club, and this guarantees to be a compelling suit, but after winning his first Tour occasion earlier this month on the Honda, Classic Mitchell might be strolling on empty.
Ian Poulter vs. Kevin Kisner. An English bulldog towards the Georgia variety. Kisner was on an undertaking remaining yr before he was run over using Watson in the championship in shape, and Poulter changed into born to play this format. I am calling this one a toss-up.
Group 15
Bubba Watson vs. Kevin Na. The defending champion has historically played his quality golfing at specific golf courses, assume Augusta National or Riviera, and Austin C.C. Is proper up his alley. Expect any other big week from Bubba.
Jordan Spieth vs. Billy Horschel. Speith’s struggles the previous few months have been well documented, so it’s first-rate no longer to overthink this one and make Horschel the easy pick out.
Group 16
Patrick Reed vs. Andrew Putnam. Reed spent the better part of Monday grinding on the range at Austin C.C. And naturally began working with David Leadbetter. Run, don’t walk, for the disappointed right here.
Sergio Garcia vs. Shane Lowry. In his followed hometown, Garcia should make some noise this week to a layout he enjoys and a bracket that would pave the way to his 2d consecutive Sweet sixteen appearance.
