Phil Mickelson ends drought with playoff win at the WGC-Mexico Championship

SANDWICH, England – While red numbers weren’t rare during the opening to The 149th Open, Royal St. George’s still claimed some big names with U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm and big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau among those to struggle. RELATED: Leaderboard | Jon Rahm leads the list of links specialists | Club foot reason for Jon Rahm’s TOUR-winning short swing Rahm and DeChambeau battled away to 1-over 71s on Thursday morning, a distant seven shots adrift of early pace-setter Louis Oosthuizen. Spaniard Rahm was the pre-tournament favorite after his impressive victory at Torrey Pines last month, but he lost his way on the ninth hole when he failed to escape from a fairway bunker on the first attempt and made a double bogey. Playing with Oosthuizen, Rahm felt like his wheels were spinning despite making plenty of grinding pars, until a final hole birdie gave him something to smile about. DeChambeau couldn’t get his radar adjusted off the tee. He managed four birdies on the round but hit the same number of fairways in regulation meaning he was hamstrung by five bogeys. “The driver sucks. It’s not a good face for me and we’re still trying to figure out how to make it good on the miss-hits. I’m living on the razor’s edge,” DeChambeau bemoaned post round. “It’s quite finicky for me because it’s a golf course that’s pretty short, and so when I hit driver and it doesn’t go in the fairway, it’s first cut or it’s in the hay, it’s tough for me to get it out on to the green and control that… I couldn’t control my wedges.” They weren’t alone when it came to tough starts. PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson found himself quickly behind the eight-ball at three-over through six holes while Jason Day shot a 5-over 40 on the front nine. Lee Westwood, a sentimental favorite for many in his home country, also shot 71 as did defending Open champion Shane Lowry.

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Two NCAA Division II Players of the Year, a former Pepperdine standout and a four-time TOUR winner will compete this week on TOUR as open qualifiers. The Butterfield Bermuda Championship open qualifier was conducted Oct. 17, with 65 players competing for four spots in this week’s field at Port Royal GC in Bermuda. Qualifying were Chandler Blanchet (64), Clay Feagler (65), John VanDerLaan and Aaron Baddeley. VanDerLaan and Baddeley survived a 6-for-2 playoff at 5-under 66; the odd men out were Garett Reband, Alex Weiss, Ben Kohles and Justin Doeden. Here’s a capsule look at the four Monday qualifiers for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship: Chandler Blanchet (7-under 64) Age: 27 Hometown: Gainesville, Florida Alma mater: University of West Florida PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Made five birdies and an eagle in qualifier to secure his first PGA TOUR start … Has made 53 career Korn Ferry Tour starts, highlighted by a T4 at the 2020 LECOM Suncoast Classic, into which he Monday qualified as a conditional member. Fell short at First Stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School last month … Won 2019 Sao Paulo Golf Club Championship on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, including a second-round 61 … Taco enthusiast who aspires to own a coffee/taco shop one day … Won 2017 Jack Nicklaus Award as top player in NCAA Division II men’s golf. Clay Feagler (6-under 65) Age: 24 Hometown: Newport Beach, California Alma mater: Pepperdine PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Overcame a double bogey on third hole of qualifier with eight birdies, earning his first TOUR start … Competed full-time on 2022 Korn Ferry Tour, recording five top-25s in 22 starts and finishing No. 82 on the Points List. He’ll compete at Final Stage of Q-School next week with the aim of earning guaranteed starts in 2023; he holds conditional status at minimum … Competed at Pepperdine alongside second-year TOUR member Sahith Theegala … Mom Caryn has memorably caddied for him on Korn Ferry Tour. Aaron Baddeley (5-under 66; advanced via playoff) Age: 41 Hometown: Lebanon, New Hampshire (raised in Australia) Alma mater: N/A PGA TOUR starts: 477 Cuts made: 283 Best PGA TOUR finish: Win (2006 RBC Heritage; 2007 WM Phoenix Open; 2011 Genesis Invitational; 2016 Barbasol Championship) Notes: Budding Monday qualifying specialist also four-spotted into Fortinet Championship last month … Made three birdies and an eagle against no bogeys to earn spot in Bermuda qualifier playoff … Holds TOUR Past Champion status after failing to improve status via Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Earned fully exempt 2023 Korn Ferry Tour status via “floor of five” category in Finals … Long renowned as one of the game’s premier putters … Recently began working with putting coach John Graham, who also works with Justin Thomas … Split time between the PGA TOUR (13 starts) and Korn Ferry Tour (11 starts) last season. John VanDerLaan (5-under 66; advanced via playoff) Age: 26 Hometown: Southbury, Connecticut Alma mater: Florida Southern PGA TOUR starts: 1 Cuts made: 1 Best PGA TOUR finish: T31, 2018 Barbasol Championship Notes: A veteran presence on the Korn Ferry Tour, having kept his card in both the 2020-21 and 2022 seasons. Finished No. 47 on 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points List with 18 made cuts in 24 starts, including seven top-25 finishes … Made five birdies against no bogeys to earn a spot in qualifier playoff … Was named 2018 Jack Nicklaus Award winner as top player in NCAA Division II men’s golf … Won 2018 Connecticut Open at same course, New Haven CC, that got him started in golf … Earliest golf memory is eating animal crackers with Billy Andrade at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut; VanDerLaan was 5 years old at the time.

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AUSTIN, Texas — A quick look at each of the 16 groups that will be in action for the first three days this week at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, along with the tournament records for each of the 64 players in the field. In addition, seven members of the PGATOUR.COM team have predicted their group winners. The seven experts making predictions are staff writers Ben Everill, Sean Martin, Mike McAllister and Cameron Morfit; fantasy writers Rob Bolton and Mike Glasscott; and equipment writer Jonathan Wall. Those 16 players who advance out of the group stage will play in single-elimination action this weekend, with the champion decided on Sunday afternoon.  Players are listed by their seed, with WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play record in parentheses. SCHEDULE | PRINTABLE BRACKET | PLAY OUR BRACKET CHALLENGE Group 1 1. Dustin Johnson, USA (14-9-0) 32. Kevin Kisner, USA (3-3-0) 38. Adam Hadwin, Canada (First appearance) 52. Bernd Wiesberger, Austria (3-6-1) ANALYSIS The move to Austin Country Club has been huge for defending champ Johnson; he’s 10-2 in the two years here after a middling record of 4-7 in his seven previous appearances on other courses. He never trailed at any point last year and in fact led after 94 percent of the holes he played. Kisner and Hadwin have Presidents Cup experience but it’ll be a big surprise if DJ doesn’t emerge from this group. PREDICTION 7 votes for Johnson (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 2 2. Justin Thomas, USA (1-5-0) 21. Francesco Molinari, Italy (2-10-0) 48. Patton Kizzire, USA (1-1-2) 60. Luke List, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS Thomas’ lone win in six matches in Austin came last year against Chris Wood. Of course, he’s never been in the kind of form he’s displayed since then and already has two wins this season, as well as a playoff loss to Phil Mickelson at the World Golf Championships event in Mexico. Kizzire also has won twice this season, and Thomas and Kizzire rank 1 and 2, respectively, in the FedExCup standings. PREDICTIONS 5 votes for Thomas (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister) 1 vote for Molinari (Wall) 1 vote for List (Morfit) Group 3 3. Jon Rahm, Spain (6-1-0) 28. Kiradech Alphibarnrat, Thailand (2-2) 43. Chez Reavie, USA (First appearance) 63. Keegan Bradley, USA (1-6) ANALYSIS Rahm reached the finals in his first appearance last year before losing to Johnson 1-up after a tremendous rally. He obviously has good vibes around this place, and has three group members with little success in this event. Incidentally, Rahm needed just 90 holes to win his first six matches last year, and his 7-and-5 win over Soren Kjeldsen was the biggest margin of victory in any match a year ago. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for Rahm (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 4 4. Jordan Spieth, USA (9-4-1) 19. Patrick Reed, USA (6-5-1) 34. Haotong Li, China (First appearance) 49. Charl Schwartzel, South Africa (13-9-0) ANALYSIS Will the showdown between Team USA teammates Spieth and Reed on Friday – perhaps the most anticipated group match after Monday’s random draw – actually mean something? Both will need to avoid stumbles in their first two matches. Schwartzel, however, has never made much noise in his nine Match Play appearances, and Li is making his debut in this event. PREDICTIONS 5 votes for Reed (Bolton, Glasscott, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Spieth (Everill, Martin) Group 5 5. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan (6-5-1) 30. Patrick Cantlay, USA (First appearance) 46. Cameron Smith, Australia (First appearance) 53. Yusaku Miyazato, Japan (First appearance) ANALYSIS Matsuyama has failed to get out of group play in his two starts in Austin and has never made much noise in his first Match Play appearances. He has three Match Play rookies in his group, but Cantlay and Smith already have had success on TOUR. PREDICTIONS 5 votes for Cantlay (Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Smith (Bolton, Everill) Group 6 6. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland (22-8-1) 18. Brian Harman, USA (First appearance) 44. Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela (2-1-0) 57. Peter Uilhein, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS McIlroy is usually a force in this event (he won in 2015, was runner-up in 2012, and reached the semifinals in 2016) and obviously comes in with momentum from his win at Bay Hill. Harman and Uilhein had match play success during their amateur days, and perhaps can draw on that this week to knock off one of the heavy favorites. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for McIlroy (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 7 7. Sergio Garcia, Spain (19-17-1) 20. Xander Schauffele, USA (First appearance) 41. Dylan Frittelli, South Africa (First appearance) 62. Shubhankar Sharma, India (First appearance) ANALYSIS In his 15 previous Match Play appearances, Garcia has made a deep run just one time (2010 when he reached the consolation finals). He’s failed to get out of group play since the format change in 2015, but now he has local ties, is a major champion – and has three players in his group who have never played this event. He has to be the favorite on paper, but it may not be that easy against three young players all eager to take down the Masters champ. PREDICTIONS 4 votes for Garcia (Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Schauffele (Bolton, Everill) 1 vote for Sharma (Glasscott) Group 8 8. Jason Day, Australia (21-9-0) 25. Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa (17-8-0) 42. Jason Dufner, USA (4-9-1) 56. James Hahn, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS Day and Oosthuizen battled in the 2016 championship match when Austin Country Club hosted the event for the first time. Day won 5 and 4, and it won’t be a surprise to see those two battle for the group title on Friday. Day won all seven matches during his romp to the title two years ago, and only played six holes in his first match last year before withdrawing to deal with family issues. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for Day (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 9 9. Tommy Fleetwood, England (4-4-0) 26. Daniel Berger, USA (1-5-0) 33. Kevin Chappell, USA (1-2-0) 58. Ian Poulter, England (23-14-0) ANALYSIS Poulter is the lowest seeded player in the group but he has the most skins on the wall, having won the Match Play in 2010 and reached the consolation final in 2013. This will be his first appearance in Austin, though. This group could be the most intriguing of all, given Fleetwood’s form and President Cuppers Berger and Chappell. “It’s a brilliant group,” said Paul Casey. PREDICTIONS 4 votes for Fleetwood (Glasscott, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Chappell (Bolton, Martin) 1 vote for Berger (Everill) Group 10 10. Paul Casey, England (20-12-1) 31. Matthew Fitzpatrick, England (3-3-0) 45. Kyle Stanley, USA (1-1-0) 51. Russell Henley, USA (2-3-0) ANALYSIS Casey certainly goes in as the favorite in this group due to his track record in this event (two championship appearances, albeit on a different course) and his form (recent win at Valspar Championship). Casey won all three matches in group stage last year in Austin, so he seems to be warming to the course. “I’ve avoided sort of a monster group,” Casey acknowledged. Stanley is making his first start here in six years. PREDICTIONS 7 votes for Casey (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) Group 11 11. Marc Leishman, Australia (5-6-1) 23. Branden Grace, South Africa (5-7-0) 35. Bubba Watson, USA (14-8-2) 64. Julian Suri, USA (First appearance) ANALYSIS Leishman and Grace have both shown their mettle at the Presidents Cup, but that success hasn’t translated to this event. Watson reached the consolation finals in his first appearance in 2011 but hasn’t done much in his six appearances since then, although he did win his group last year. Suri is the last player in the field, a late entry after Joost Luiten withdrew. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Leishman (Everill, Martin, Morfit) 3 votes for Grace (Bolton, McAllister, Wall) 1 vote for Watson (Glasscott) Group 12 12. Tyrrell Hatton, England (2-1-0) 22. Charley Hoffman, USA (3-4-0) 36. Brendan Steele, USA (1-1-1) 55. Alexander Levy, France (0-3-0) ANALYSIS A wide-open group on paper, although Hatton certainly comes off a strong performance in Mexico with a T-3 finish. But none of the four have substantial success or experience in this event. This will be Hoffman’s first match play tournament since appearing in the Presidents Cup last year, so it will be interesting to see if that experience will help him this week. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Hoffman (Bolton, Glasscott, Martin) 2 votes for Hatton (Everill, Wall) 2 votes for Steele (McAllister, Morfit) Group 13 13. Alex Noren, Sweden (5-3-0) 29. Tony Finau, USA (First appearance) 39. Thomas Pieters, Belgium (2-2-2) 61. Kevin Na, USA (3-4-1) ANALYSIS Noren reached the quarterfinals last year before losing to eventual champion Johnson, and Na also won his group a year ago. In the last two years in Austin, Na has beaten Justin Thomas and halved with Rory McIlroy, so that could give him confidence. Finau and Pieters are big hitters, and seeing Johnson win last year may provide a gameplan for navigating Austin Country Club. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Pieters (Everill, Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Noren (Bolton, Glasscott) 2 votes for Finau (Martin, McAllister) Group 14 14. Phil Mickelson, USA (22-13-0) 17. Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain (8-4-1) 40. Satoshi Kodaira, Japan (First appearance) 59. Charles Howell III, USA (7-10-0) ANALYSIS Mickelson won the most recent World Golf Championships event in Mexico to end his five-year drought, and he reached the quarterfinals last year after four dominant wins. Howell won his group last year, beating Cabrera Bello 1 up along the way, so the Spaniard gets a chance to avenge that loss on Thursday. Cabrera Bello reached the semifinals in 2016 before losing to Louis Oosthuizen. PREDICTIONS 6 votes for Cabrera Bello (Bolton, Everill, Glasscott, Martin, McAllister, Wall) 1 vote for Mickelson (Morfit) Group 15 15. Pat Perez, USA (3-3-0) 24. Gary Woodland, USA (7-5-0) 37. Webb Simpson, USA (7-7-0) 50. Si Woo Kim, Korea (1-1-1) ANALYSIS Perez’s 2017 appearance was his first in this event in eight years, and he failed to advance out of group play. Simpson has failed to get out of group play in two appearances since the format change. Woodland reached the championship final in 2015, losing to Rory McIlroy, but did not get out of group play last year. Kim, the reigning PLAYERS champ, has not been in contention in his first five WGC appearances. PREDICTIONS 4 votes for Woodland (Everill, McAllister, Morfit, Wall) 3 votes for Simpson (Bolton, Glasscott, Martin) Group 16 16. Matt Kuchar, USA (21-8-2) 27. Ross Fisher, England (8-6-0) 47. Yuta Ikeda, Japan (0-4-1) 54. Zach Johnson, USA (14-14-0) ANALYSIS Kuchar won this event in 2013 when it was held in Arizona, but hasn’t made a deep run since. Fisher reached the consolation match in his first appearance in 2009, and he made some noise last year before losing to the quarterfinals, so he has a tendency to make noise in this event. Johnson has won his group in each of the previous two years in Austin, so he’ll look to extend that streak. PREDICTIONS 3 votes for Johnson (Bolton, Glasscott, Martin) 2 votes for Kuchar (Morfit, Wall) 2 votes for Fisher (Everill, McAllister)

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