Rory McIlroy, the newly minted PLAYERS champion and the 2015 winner of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Harding Park, headlines a stacked field as 64 of the best players in golf take on the fickle match play format and 7,108-yard, par-71 Austin Country Club in Texas. Bubba Watson is defending, while 2017 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play winner Dustin Johnson goes for his second straight WGC title (Mexico) in as many months, and his second Mexico City-Austin WGC double. Tiger Woods, the only three-time winner of this event, tees it up for the first time since it went to group play in lieu of a single-elimination format. Justin Rose plays here for the first time since 2016. Here’s a look at some of the Featured Groups (FedExCup ranking in parenthesis). HOW TO FOLLOW (All Times ET) TELEVISION: Wednesday-Friday, 2-8 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday- Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (GC), Saturday 2-6 p.m. (NBC), Sunday 3-7 (NBC). PGA TOUR LIVE: Wednesday-Friday, 10:15 a.m.- 8 p.m. (Featured Groups). Saturday, 8:45 a.m.- 2 p.m. (Featured Groups). We will have a fan vote on Twitter to determine the second Featured Match on Friday; due to the nature of the event, choices will be provided later in the week. International subscribers (via GOLFTV): Wednesday-Friday, 14:15 to 00:00 GMT. Saturday, 13:45 to 18:00. RADIO: Wednesday-Friday, 2-8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.COM). FEATURED GROUPS WEDNESDAY Bryson DeChambeau (14) vs. Russell Knox (75) – Although he hasn’t played in this event and is an unknown at Austin C.C., DeChambeau has four PGA TOUR wins in the last 12 months. Knox hasn’t gotten out of group play the last two years. Tee time: 10:42 a.m. Ian Poulter (52) vs. Kevin Kisner (71) – Poulter won the whole thing in 2010, while Kisner was a finalist here a year ago before getting steamrolled by Bubba Watson 7 and 6. Two gritty players who are tougher-than-average match play outs. Tee time: 11:15 a.m. We will move from the above matches to the following ones when they tee off: Phil Mickelson (12) vs. Henrik Stenson (170) – Ping Pong balls set up a rematch between the two principle combatants at The Open Championship three years ago. Stenson won this tournament in 2007, but hasn’t played it since 2015. Mickelson is already a winner this season. Tee time: 1:27 p.m. Tiger Woods (103) vs. Aaron Wise (96) – They’ve each won the NCAA championship, one for Stanford (Woods) and one for Oregon (Wise), albeit some two decades apart. A fascinating clash of youth versus experience where the awe factor just might play a part. Tee time: 2 p.m. THURSDAY Bubba Watson (48) vs. Billy Horschel (54) – Defending champ Watson was a sensation a year ago and comes to Austin on the heels of a T4 at the Valspar Championship. Former FedExCup champ Horschel has seen glimpses of his best stuff but hasn’t put it all together this season. Tee time: 11:04 a.m. Jordan Spieth (186) vs. Kevin Na (151) – Spieth is imminently comfortable in Austin, having played collegiately for Texas, but has been strangely out of sorts with his game. Na is a streaky player with experience on his side. Tee time: 11:15 a.m. We will leave the above matches as the following one tees off: Tiger Woods (103) vs. Brandt Snedeker (32) – Two former FedExCup champions and frequent playing partners on TOUR battle it out in Texas. Tee time: 12:32 p.m. ET FRIDAY Featured Matches & Fan Vote Choices TBD SATURDAY Featured Matches & Fan Vote Choices TBD
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