WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play match previews Day 4

AUSTIN, Texas – Down to the final 16 players. Tiger vs. Rory. The survivors face the potential of 72 holes in two days — but it’ll be worth it for the winner of this week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Here’s a preview going into Saturday morning’s Round of 16, which will be followed by the afternoon Quarterfinals. On Sunday, the Semifinals will be played in the morning, with the Championship and Consolation matches set for the afternoon. MATCH PLAY: Scores | Group Standings | Bracket | Group scenarios | Day 3 match recaps | Watch PGA TOUR LIVE, 8:15 a.m. ET Power Rankings: Round of 16 We’ve ranked the 16 remaining players in terms of current form and match play history, as well as just a gut feel for how they will fare this weekend at Austin Country Club. Please note: Not based on how the would match up in the bracket (this week’s record in parentheses): 1. RORY McILROY (3-0) – Has yet to trail in a match. No worse than T6 in all six starts in 2019. The 2015 champ. Coming off PLAYERS victory. 2. FRANCESCO MOLINARI (3-0) – Has yet to trail in a match. Only European to go 5-0 in a Ryder Cup. Recent winner at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. 3. HENRIK STENSON (3-0) – Has yet to trail in a match. Blitzed through the so-called “Group of Death” against three major champions. The 2007 champ. 4. TIGER WOODS (2-1) – Three-time champ (2003, 2004, 2008). An 80-time PGA TOUR winner. Oh, and he might have a bit more gallery support than anybody else. 5. BRANDEN GRACE (3-0) – Took out world No. 1 and former champ Dustin Johnson. Was 5-0 in 2015 Presidents Cup. Has trailed for just three holes. 6. MATT KUCHAR (2-1) – Two-time winner already this season. 2013 Match Play champ. Came from behind in all three group matches. 7. PAUL CASEY (2-0-1) – Two-time runner-up of event. Fresh off defending Valspar Championship title. Has lost just seven holes. 8. MARC LEISHMAN (3-0) – Trailed for just four holes this week. Good news: Third time out of group stage. Bad news: Has never advanced past but round of 16. 9. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN (2-1) – Runner-up in 2016. Eight under in eight-hole stretch on Friday. 10. KEVIN KISNER (2-1) – Needed playoff to advance over Poulter, the man he had earlier lost to. Runner up 2018. Fatigue factor? He’s played more holes than any of the other 15 players. 11. SERGIO GARCIA (2-1) – Limped out of group with a Friday loss. Just eight birdies, the least of the remaining players. 12. TYRRELL HATTON (2-0-1) – Only trailed for three holes. Advanced out of group last year, but lost in round of 16. 13. JUSTIN ROSE (2-0-1) – In 11 previous tries, he’s made final 16 just once and lost. Comes off a T8 at THE PLAYERS. 14. LUCAS BJERREGAARD (2-0-1) – Ousted Justin Thomas. Overcame deficits in all three matches. Only Match Play rookie. 15. HAOTONG LI (2-1) – Needed a playoff to advance and looked shaky on some clutch putts. Was 0-3 in only previous appearance. 16. KEVIN NA (2-1) – Took out defending champion Watson. Only reached final 16 once prior and lost. Trailed for 23 holes, led for just 14 — worst on both accounts. Expert Picks  PGATOUR.COM staff writers Ben Everill and Mike McAllister are on site in Austin and will predict the winner of every match each day. Here are their Round of 16 picks (matches listed in order of playing schedule): Three Observations 1. THE ‘WORLD’ INDEED. Ten countries are represented by the 16 players left, a true reflection of the global competition at the World Golf Championships. The United States (4), England (3) and South Africa (2) have the most players remaining, with Northern Ireland, China, Denmark, Australia, Italy, Sweden and Spain also still represented. 2. EXPERIENCE MATTERS. The average number of Dell Technologies Match Play starts among the 16 players left is 8.4. Only one player (Lucas Bjerregaard) is making his Match Play debut, while another (HaoTong Li) is making his second. Experienced players such as Sergio Garcia (17th start) and Tiger Woods and Paul Casey (14th starts each) could have the edge. 3. TOP-FOUR FINAL? If No. 2 seed Justin Rose and No. 4 seed Rory McIlroy keep winning, they would meet in the Championship match on Sunday afternoon. If that happens, it would be just the second time in Match Play history that two of the top four overall seeds have advanced to the final. The only time it’s happened? The 2004 final when No. 1 Tiger Woods defeated No. 3 Davis Love III. By The Numbers Least Holes Played: McIlroy (46), Stenson (46), Molinari (46) Most Holes Played: Kisner (56), Rose (53), Bjerregaard (52) Most Holes Won: Molinari (21), Woods (18), Bjerregaard (18) Least Holes Won: Garcia (14), Oosthuizen (14), Hatton (14) Least Holes Lost: McIlroy (3), Stenson (5), Casey (7), Garcia (7), Hatton (7) Most Holes Led: Stenson (45), Molinari (42), McIlroy (41) Least Holes Trailed: Stenson (0), McIlroy (0), Molinari (0) Most Birdies: Oosthuizen (17), Casey (16), Kuhar (16) Fewest Bogeys: Garcia (2), Stenson (3)

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