World’s 10 toughest golf courses

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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The 2006 tournament stands as the 50-year-old’s most devastating defeat, costing him the only major trophy he still hasn’t won. But it also defined his greatness.

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The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA TOUR jointly announced today that both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup have been rescheduled and will now be played one year later than originally planned. The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for Sept. 22-27, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, has been rescheduled for Sept. 21-26, 2021. Likewise, the Presidents Cup, initially slated for Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2021, at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, will now be played Sept. 19-25, 2022. The decision to reschedule the Ryder Cup was based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County, with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority. “Unlike other major sporting events that are played in existing stadiums, we had to make a decision now about building facilities to host the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call. We are grateful to PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners at the TOUR for their flexibility and generosity in the complex task of shifting the global golf calendar. “As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most. The spectators who support both the U.S. and European sides are what make the Ryder Cup such a unique and compelling event and playing without them was not a realistic option. We stand united with our partners from Ryder Cup Europe, the NBC Sports Group, Sky and our other broadcast partners around the world. We look forward to delivering the Ryder Cup’s renowned pageantry, emotion and competitive drama to a global audience in 2021.” Guy Kinnings, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, said: “The Ryder Cup is rightly celebrated as one of the world’s greatest sporting occasions, made special and totally unique in our sport by the fervent atmosphere created by the passionate spectators of both sides. “While that point is significant, it is not as important as the health of the spectators which, in these difficult times, is always the main consideration. We considered all options including playing with a limited attendance but all our stakeholders agreed this would dilute the magic of this great occasion. “We therefore stand beside our partners at the PGA of America in the decision to postpone the Ryder Cup for a year and join with them in extending our thanks to the PGA TOUR for their willingness to move the dates of the Presidents Cup. “We also thank NBC, Sky and our many broadcast partners around the globe, in addition to the worldwide partners of this great event, whose support and commitment are second to none.” With the decision to play the 2020 Ryder Cup in September 2021, all subsequent Ryder Cups after Whistling Straits will also shift to odd years: 2023/Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Rome, Italy); 2025/Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, New York); 2027/Adare Manor (County Limerick, Ireland); 2029/Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota); 2031/Europe (to be determined); 2033/The Olympic Club (San Francisco); 2035/Europe (to be determined); 2037/Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Maryland). With the momentum of the successful 2019 Presidents Cup played in Melbourne, Australia, the 14th playing of the Presidents Cup will now be hosted for the first time in the Southeast United States at Quail Hollow Club in 2022. “These two premier international team events are lifted by the spirit of the fans,” said Monahan. “With the uncertainty of the current climate, we fully support the Ryder Cup’s decision to delay a year in order to ensure fans could be a part of the incredible atmosphere in Wisconsin, and the delay of this year’s Presidents Cup was the right decision in order to allow for that option. We are thankful that our global partners, our friends at Quail Hollow Club, our long-time annual title sponsor in Charlotte and all associated with the Presidents Cup and the Junior Presidents Cup have approached this change with a unified, positive spirit. We are confident the move will give us even more runway as we bring the Presidents Cup to Charlotte in 2022.” Additionally, as a result of the Presidents Cup date change, the Wells Fargo Championship will be played at its traditional venue at Quail Hollow Club in 2021, at TPC Potomac in 2022 during the Presidents Cup year and will return to Quail Hollow in 2023. Presidents Cup 2022 qualifying will be determined at a later date. The Ryder Cup, which began in 1927, brings together the finest tour professionals from the United States and Europe. “While it is disappointing that the Ryder Cup won’t be played this year, the decision to reschedule is the right thing to do under the circumstances,” said U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker. “At the end of the day, we want to stage a Ryder Cup that will rival all other Ryder Cups in my home state of Wisconsin, and now we have the opportunity to showcase the event as it was meant to be seen.” Pádraig Harrington, Captain of the European Ryder Cup Team, said: “Rescheduling the Ryder Cup was never going to be an easy decision given the many factors to take into consideration. But I believe it is the right assessment given the unprecedented circumstances we are facing at this time. “When you think of the Ryder Cup you think of the distinctive atmosphere generated by the spectators, such as around the first tee at Le Golf National two years ago. If that cannot be responsibly recreated at Whistling Straits in September, then it is correct that we all wait until it can be. “I know, right now, that September 2021 feels like a long time away. But it will come around quickly and I guarantee that the European players and I will be ready when it does.” For Ryder Cup qualifying, both the United States and European teams will revisit their respective selection processes in the near future. Tickets purchased for the 2020 Ryder Cup via rydercup.com will be automatically valid for the corresponding day(s) in 2021. In the coming weeks, the PGA of America will contact those who secured tickets via rydercup.com to facilitate refunds for those unable to attend in 2021. Further details regarding this process are available on the Ryder Cup website. Those who have purchased tickets and hospitality packages on the secondary market must contact that specific site directly. The PGA of America will be unable to process refunds for those purchases. In a corresponding decision, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe also announced that the Junior Ryder Cup will be rescheduled for Sept. 20-21, 2021 at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It was originally scheduled for Sept. 21-22, 2020.

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