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This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year. It’s different, exciting and unpredictable in equal measure. The fact it’s a World Golf Championship event means we’ve got the world’s greatest golfers, and the fact it’s a match-play event means they’ll be going head-to-head and playing up to 126 holes in five days, including a 72-hole weekend.
Striking Matches
Sixteen groups must be whittled down to sixteen players. Brutal? Yes. Entertaining? YES!
Group 12 is comprised of Jason Day (2014 and 2016 Champion), Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson (2007 Champion) and Jim Furyk. Lefty recently won at Pebble Beach, and Jim Furyk started Sunday at last week’s Valspar Championship in 6th following his runner-up at The Players. Just to re-iterate: Only one of them can reach the knockouts.
Group 14 features big-hitting Tony Finau, match-play master Ian Poulter, last year’s finalist Kevin Kisner and in-form Keith Mitchell in what I’d argue is the most intriguing group.
Tommy Fleetwood and Louis Oosthuizen will be an interesting watch, although Kyle Stanley and Ben An (the latter sitting one spot outside of Masters invite) will be no pushovers. Jon Rahm will need to be at his best (which he so often is this season) to wrestle past Matt Kuchar; a strong match-play golfer and the 2013 Champion here.
History on Their Side
For three consecutive years leading up to last season (2015-17), this tournament was won by the World No. 1. Whilst Bubba Watson’s victory snapped that streak, it maintained a trend of big-hitting winners; Watson, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day again. Austin Country Club lends itself to those who can bomb it off the tee.
I may as well copy-paste this part from week to week, but here goes: Tiger Woods has the best record in this tournament. Tiger is both the only man to retain the title (2003/04) and to win it three times (’03, ’04, ’08).
The Best Chance
DJ is much-fancied thanks to outstanding form, his style of play, his 2016 win here… Oh, and being the top-ranked golfer in the world helps. Justin Rose has had virtually no success in this tournament, with match play simply not being his forte. This could boost the likes of Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy. Jon Rahm’s 2019 form deserves a win, and this golf course is as likely as any to stage that win.
With all that said, Tony Finau is my one to watch. The American went 2-1 here last year, but the defeat to Alex Noren (1UP) sent the Swede through to the knockouts. His win over Fleetwood (6&4) at the Ryder Cup made it a 3-1 record in career match-play singles. His distance off the tee will help, and if he can come through arguably the toughest group then his first PGA Tour win is very much on the cards.
More golf, more quality, more entertainment. This is far more than just a Masters warm-up.
Written by Joe Carabini
