There has been a lot of talk in the world of golf on retooling the current PGA Tour schedule, and this week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament was right in the middle of the discussion.
Time after time, big-name marquee players are skipping the biggest events on the schedule. This week is no different as Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Adam Hadwin, and Rickie Fowler have all withdrawn from the biggest match play tournament in the world.
All have different reasons for not participating, but you have to point to the timing of the tournament. Players are resting up and preparing for the Masters, which is only two weeks away (check out Masters betting odds here). The PGA Tour brass needs to tweak the schedule so that all top players are in the field.
The Bettors are Still Happy
We have a top-notch betting field this week in Austin, Texas. It’s Longhorn territory, so you have to watch Jordan Spieth (+750), who’s the home crowd and one of bettors’ favorites.
New No. 1 Dustin Johnson (+650), defending champion Jason Day (+1200) and Europe’s finest, Rory McIlroy (+700) all are getting heavy action headed in their direction, too.
Red-hot Jon Rahm (+1700), veteran Phil Mickelson (+3000), Sergio Garcia (+2000), Hideki Matsuyama (+1500), and nearly all of the best players in the world will be grinding it out, trying to win the 2017 WGC-Dell Match Play.
AÂ Breakdown of the Dell Technologies Match Play
The match play format has changed to pool play with 16 groups of four players contesting in round-robin matches Wednesday through Friday. The 16 group winners will advance to the knockout stage over the weekend.
It’s the World Cup format in a sense. Last year, during the round robin action, the higher seeds went 54-24-18.
Event Date: March 22-26, 2017 – Golf Channel and NBC
Venue: The tournament returns to Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas for the second consecutive year. Last year was a hit with the players. The Pete Dye design is a short track measuring 7,100 yards and playing to a par 71.
TV Coverage:Â Wednesday-Friday, 2-8 p.m. ET – Golf Channel. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Golf Channel, 2-6 p.m. – NBC. Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Golf Channel, 3-7 p.m. – NBC.
Current WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play Golf Odds:
- Dustin Johnson +650
- Rory McIlroy +700
- Jordan Spieth +750
- Jason Day +1200
- Hideki Matsuyama +1500
- Jon Rahm +1700
- Justin Thomas +1900
- Sergio Garcia +2000
- Tyrrell Hatton +2250
- Paul Casey +1750
- Patrick Reed +2500
- Phil Mickelson +3000
- Brandt Snedeker +2900
- Thomas Pieters +3250
- Francesco Molinari +4000
- Tommy Fleetwood +3000
- Charl Schwartzel +4550
- Louis Oosthuizen +3500
- Matt Kuchar +3900
- Martin Kaymer +3750
- Gary Woodland +3500
- Kevin Kisner +4000
- Emiliano Grillo +4225
- Rafa Cabrera-Bello +4500
- Bubba Watson +5000
- Jimmy Walker +4500
- Marc Leishman+5500
- Matthew Fitzpatrick +4950
- Alex Noren +5850
- Branden Grace +6000
- Daniel Berger +6500
- J.B. Holmes +7000
- Russell Knox +7000
- Ryan Moore +6000
- Brendan Steele +8000
- Brooks Koepka +8550
- Byeong Hun An +9000
- Charles Howell III +9999
- Danny Willett +10000
- Jason Dufner +10000
- Lee Westwood +12500
- Pat Perez +11100
- Shane Lowry +11500
- Zach Johnson +15000
- Bill Haas +9000
- Bernd Wiesberger +10000
- Jhonattan Vegas +10500
- Kevin Na +12500
- Ross Fisher +15000
- FIELD – Any Other Player +300
Predictions – Round Robin Group Action
Group 1
New World No. 1 Dustin Johnson headlines the group that features four major champions. Joining Johnson are German Martin Kaymer, and Americans Jimmy Walker and Webb Simpson. Johnson is the heavy favorite, but I like taking the value with Walker or Kaymer. Remember, it’s not a long course, the wind is supposed to blow, and it’s match play. Prediction: Johnson doesn’t make it to the Sweet 16.
Group 7
A very competitive group headlined by the highly-anticipated match between Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm. Kevin Chappell is the wildcard and Shane Lowry isn’t afraid to mix it up match play style. In the end, the difference will be with the flatstick and that’s where Rahm excels. Prediction: Rahm wins.
Group 8
This group features all-European Tour players with no clear cut favorite – it’s wide open! Alex Noren is the highest seed in the group but will be challenged by Italy’s Francesco Molinari, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee. Despite Molinari’s 2-7 record at this event, I like his current form and think he has enough to advance to the Sweet 16.
Predictions: the winner is Rory McIlroy +(700). His 11-2-1 record at this event is impressive. He loves the new format, has a great attitude and will his second WGC – Dell Match Play title in the last three years. He’ll close the gap on Dustin Johnson as the Number 1 player on the planet.
Check back all week long to bet the daily matchups, golf odds and golf props for this week’s WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play.
