Quick look at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play

AUSTIN, Texas – The first three winners since the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play moved to Austin Country Club? Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson. Obviously, it’s a big boy’s course for a big boy tournament. “Tells me good players won every year,â€� Johnson said Tuesday. But in Match Play, there’s still a chance for Cinderella to make an appearance – which is why playing our Bracket Challenge is so intriguing. THE FLYOVER  The scenic stretch of par-4 holes next to Lake Austin can often be pivotal, as it offers both scoring opportunities and the potential for danger. The 317-yard 13th is drivable; it played to a stroke average of 3.545 last year and gives a player trailing his match a chance to be aggressive. The 465-yard 14th and 440-yard 15th are not as easy but each played under par last year. Water comes into play at the 13th and 14th. With fans watching from boats on the water, it’s a fun area on the back nine. LANDING ZONE  The 498-yard par-4 eighth has statistically been the most difficult hole at Austin Country Club. It’s the longest hole on the course and has played to a stroke average of 4.176. Most drives will fall off to the right; last year, 75 tee shots ended up in the right rough compared to just 10 in the left rough. No wonder it’s called “Tumbleslope.â€� Here’s where all tee shots were hit last year. WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner: “High pressure will influence the weather on Wednesday and Thursday with partly cloudy skies and seasonal temperatures. Friday will be the warmest day of the week as temperatures climb into the lower 80s. A strong cold front is forecast to arrive in Austin on Saturday morning with cooler temperatures and a chance for showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will be even cooler on Sunday with temperatures only reaching the lower 60s.â€� For the latest weather news from Austin, Texas, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I always say I’m not in a slump … I just say everybody else is really good. They’re just beating me. BY THE NUMBERS 43 – Number of matches played by Tiger Woods in this event, the most of any player – despite not having played the last five years. Ian Poulter is second on the all-time list at 42. 62 – The lowest seed to win the Match Play (Kevin Sutherland in 2002). 5 – Number of times to the No. 1 overall seed has won — Tiger in 2003, ’04 and ’08; Rory McIlroy in 2015 and Dustin Johnson in 2017. 9 and 8 – Largest margin of victory in any single match in this event. It happened in the first round of 2006 when Tiger beat Stephen Ames. SCATTERSHOTS Loving those WGCs: Of Dustin Johnson’s 20 career PGA TOUR wins, six have come in World Golf Championships events, including his last one earlier this year at the Mexico Championship. He’s the only player to complete the career WGC Slam. “You definitely know when you’re at a WGC compared to like a normal TOUR event for the most part,â€� Johnson said. “It’s a bigger tournament in our schedule. You definitely know that. But I don’t prepare any differently.â€� Johnson, by the way, is the top overall seed for the third straight year. “Shows me that what I’m doing is the right things,â€� he said. “It kind of drives me to keep working hard and to keep doing the things that I’m doing.â€� 20 years later: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk are the only players in this week’s field of 64 who participated in the first Match Play event 20 years ago at La Costa, when Jeff Maggert defeated Andrew Magee in 38 holes. “I’m the oldest of the four, dammit,â€� said the 48-year-old Furyk, making his 18th start this week. “… I’m proud of the longevity, the consistency and the number of times I’ve been invited to play this event. It’s been fun.â€� Group of Death? Speaking of Furyk, he’s in the group that includes Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and two-time Match Play champ Jason Day. All major winners, and only Furyk has not won a PLAYERS Championship – although he came close earlier this month with a runner-up finish. “Mega-group,â€� remarked Paul Casey.

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