Damien Kayat has an in-depth look at the WGC Dell Technologies Match-Play which takes place at Austin Country Club in Texas between 28 March – 1 April 2019.
PGA Tour – European Tour
WGC Dell Technologies Match-Play
Austin Country Club, Texas | 28th March – 1st April
The tour makes its way to the Lone Star State for yet another edition of the WGC. Dustin Johnson won in imperious fashion last time out, though he will be feeling rather deflated following an insipid final day at Copperhead. Paul Casey’s victory made it three consecutive European winners on tour, following Francesco Molinari and Rory McIlroy. This event will likely serve as the final chance for players to fine tune their game ahead of the trip to famed Magnolia Lane. Of the top players, only Adam Scott and Ricky Fowler have chosen to eschew this week’s event.
The first WGC Match-Play was played in 1999 and won by Jeff Maggert. The event has gone through various different cosmetic changes, both in course and format. Sponsors were starting to grow tired of the pre-tournament favourites capitulating in their opening matches. The event was wisely restructured in 2015, with a group format replacing the straight knockout set-up. The 16 top-seeded players will be split into 16 groups of four. The first three days will see all players duking it out three times. The players with the best record in each group proceed to the straight elimination on Saturday. If there is a two-way tie, players will be separated by their head-to-head record. In the event of a three-way tie, we have the awesome prospect of sudden-death holes leading into Saturday. Saturday will see the 16 whittled down to 8 and then to 4. Sunday will play host to the semi-finals, final and 3rd/4th place play-off.
Austin Country Club is a Pete Dye creation and measures just a smidge over 7,000 yard. Four reachable par 5’s and a drivable par 4 make it ideally suited for the risk-reward nature of match-play golf. Just one look at the last three editions seems to suggest that power should prove immensely beneficial this week. Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day provide a fairly toothsome array of power as previous winners here. One thing to be noted is that fairly heavy winds are predicted this week. So keep an eye on links specialists.
This will be an incredible spectacle, with Tiger Woods clearly the name on most lips. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson are bang in form and are both previous winners of this event. One thing that has to be taken into consideration this week is fitness. The winner will be expected to play 7 rounds in the space of 5 days. One wonders just how much players will be looking to push themselves with Augusta on the horizon. But competitive instincts should prevail and I’m expecting a rousing week in Texas ahead of the year’s first Major Championship.
Past Winners
2018: Bubba Watson
2017: Dustin Johnson
2016: Jason Day
2015: Rory McIlroy
2014: Jason Day
Betting Favourites (To Win)
Rory McIlroy (10/1)
Dustin Johnson (10/1)
Justin Thomas (16/1)
Justin Rose (20/1)
Jon Rahm (20/1)
Value Bets
Bubba Watson – To Win (33/1), To Place (13/2)
Looking towards Paul Casey for inspiration, Bubba Watson will be looking to defend his title this week. Bubba is the sort of player who tends to identify events and excels in them. Just look at his exertions in claiming those two Masters Titles. He has enjoyed a solid start to the year, with four top 20’s in six starts. He sits inside the top 10 statistically for shots gained off the tee and within the 100-125 yard proximity. While he hardly excelled in Paris, Bubba is an experienced Ryder Cup player with an affinity for the duelling nature of match-play golf.
Eddie Pepperell – To Win (125/1), To Place (25/1)
You have got to love Eddie Pepperell at these odds. Especially when you look at his last performance at TPC Sawgrass. Playing in his first ever Players, the ever-quotable Pepperell surged up the leader-board on the final day, finishing in a tie for third. This will be his first ever WGC Match-Play, though don’t expect Pepperell to be daunted. Just look at his British Masters victory at Walton Heath last year. He also finished second at Gullane in his first ever Scottish Open. He is a links specialist and should flourish in the potentially gusty conditions this week.
The Man to Beat
Bryson DeChambeau – To Win (25/1), To Place (5/1)
The mad professor of golf, Bryson DeChambeau has been one of the hottest golfers on the planet over the last year. He has four worldwide wins since last June. He has seven top 10’s in that space. He has been a tad quiet of late and could be the man to emerge from the background this week. The 25-year-old is in amazing shape and should hold up to the vagaries of this event. His 0-3 Ryder Cup experience in Paris shouldn’t be held against him. It was his first taste of the biennial event and was marked by folly in so many ways. He won his only ever play-off on the PGA Tour, claiming last year’s Memorial Tournament.
