Fansided

WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play groups and predictions

By David Salituro

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 17: Tiger Woods of the United States hits a tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on March 17, 2019 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 17: Tiger Woods of the United States hits a tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on March 17, 2019 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 22: Bubba Watson of the United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during the second round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec on February 22, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 22: Bubba Watson of the United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during the second round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec on February 22, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) /

Group 13: Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Brandt Snedeker and Aaron Wise

Tiger Woods makes his return to the Match Play event this year and is a good bet to make his stay last into the weekend. The three-time champion hasn’t played here since 2013, so he has no experience of Austin Country Club. While he hasn’t recaptured the same form he had a year ago when he won for the first time in five years, Woods has finished in the top-20 in three of four events. He also ranks inside the top-10 in both strokes gained: tee-to-green and putting and is third in greens in regulation.

If there is one threat to Woods in this group, it’s Patrick Cantlay. The 27-year-old already has four top-10 finishes this year, including at both WGC events. Brandt Snedeker’s hot putter gives him upset potential every match, but he’s only advanced past the group stage once in three attempts. Aaron Wise was a match play star in college at Oregon, but he hasn’t had a top-10 since November and is making his tournament debut.

Group 14: Tony Finau, Ian Poulter, Kevin Kisner and Keith Mitchell

If there’s one thing that we’ve learned in this event over the years, it’s bet against Ian Poulter at your own peril. The 43-year-old Englishman won this event in 2010, was a semifinalist in both 2005 and 2013 and made the quarterfinals last year. He’s also won 14 of 22 career matches at the Ryder Cup. Poulter thrives in the pressure atmosphere of match play and is a safe pick every time he’s in the field.

Tony Finau, the top-ranked player in the group, is one of the most athletically gifted players on PGA Tour. He doesn’t have a top-10 since October, however, and failed to get out of his group in his only appearance last year. Kevin Kisner lost to Bubba Watson in the final a year ago but is also without a top-10 since November. Keith Mitchell won his first PGA Tour event at the Honda Classic earlier this month and is making his first appearance at this event.

Group 15: Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel and Kevin Na

Bubba Watson stormed past Kevin Kisner 7&6 in the final last year and should have an easy road to get back to the next round. In addition to his title, Watson also won his group in 2017 and was a semifinalist in 2011. He’s been characteristically long off the tee this season, just the type of game that thrives at Austin Country Club. Watson is second on tour in driving distance and third in strokes gained: off-the-tee.

The fact that Jordan Spieth wasn’t in the first pot when names were drawn on Monday speaks volumes about where his game is right now. Spieth hasn’t been inside the top-30 in any event on the PGA Tour this year and is coming off a missed cut at the Players Championship. Billy Horschel is making his first appearance in this event since 2016 and has never advanced past the group stage. Kevin Na, meanwhile, is better known for sharing a laugh with Tiger Woods on the 17th green at the Players than his play as of late.

Group 16: Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Andrew Putnam

A year ago Patrick Reed would’ve been an easy pick to win this group. The “Captain America” of the Ryder Cup was already a match play legend from his performances in 2014 and 2016. Recently, however, Reed’s reputation has been severely damaged. He shot 77-75 at the Valspar Championship last week and had to call in noted swing guru David Leadbetter. Anytime a player changes swing coaches right before a major tournament, it’s never a good sign. His 2018 Ryder Cup was a disaster, and the reigning Masters champion hasn’t had a top-10 since October.

That leaves Sergio Garcia to fill the role of favorite to advance. Garcia won his group last year and was also a semifinalist in 2010. The Spaniard has also been in solid form recently with two top-10 finishes in his last four PGA Tour events. Shane Lowry upset Rory McIlroy in the first round in 2013 but hasn’t made it past the group stage in three appearances since. Andrew Putnam, meanwhile, is making his tournament debut and has missed three of his last four cuts.

Home/PGA Tour