The PGA Tour wrapped up its Florida Swing last week at PGA National, and it’s now on to Texas for a two-stop run up to the Masters. The first tournament is in Austin for this week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at the Pete Dye-designed Austin Country Club.
As a World Golf Championships event, the field in Austin is loaded with top-ranked players, including 64 of the top 71. The co-favorites this week are Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau – two of the winners on the Florida trip: Thomas at The PLAYERS, and DeChambeau, Bay Hill.
The two 27-year old American superstars are being offered at 11-1.
Some advice: Thomas received a tough draw with South African Louis Oosthuizen – a match play wizard as his B player; Kevin Kisner, who was runner-up in 2018, and winner in 2019 as the C; and Matt Kuchar, who lost to Kisner in the finals and won the title in 2013, as the D draw. Easily the most stout group in the tournament.
Slightly behind the top duo was world No. 1, Dustin Johnson, who won here in 2017, but has surprisingly struggled in his two most recent starts, both big events (T48 at The PLAYERS, and T54 at WGC-Workday).
DJ is being offered at 14-1, as is Jon Rahm, who lost to DJ in that 2017 edition.
Collin Morikawa, another Florida winner (WGC-Workday), and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy round out the top-5 favorites at 20-1.
Texas native Jordan Spieth was listed at 25-1. The three-time major winner may have had some of that home cooking simmering during the draw as he ended up with maybe the three weakest A, B, and C players, collectively, in the field: Matthew Fitzpatrick (A), Matthew Wolff (B), and Corey Conners (C). Not only is Spieth the only “D” player favored to win his group, he’s the only “D” listed in the top-25 favorites (see table below).
WGC-DELL MATCH PLAY
The Skinny
WGC-Dell Match Play
Dates:Â March 23-28, 2021
Where: Austin, Texas
Course:Â Austin Country Club
Distance: Par 71, 7,108 yards
Architect: Pete Dye
Format: Match Play
Purse: $10,000,000
Winning Share: $1,800,000
Defending Champion: Kevin KisnerÂ
Odds To Win: WGC-Dell Match Play
Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Justin Thomas (12-1)
1. Bryson DeChambeau (12-1)
3. Dustin Johnson (14-1)
3. Jon Rahm (14-1)
5. Collin Morikawa (20-1)
5. Rory McIlroy (20-1)
Full Field, Rank and Odds
Credits: DraftKings, Getty Images
