WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Big guns on collision course in Texas

Head-to-head action takes centre stage in the golfing world this week as the world's best players lock horns in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. 

With the Masters now only a fortnight away, golf’s biggest names take a week off from the rigours of stroke play to battle it out in an event that always delivers on the entertainment front. 

Ahead of the action teeing off on Wednesday, we take a closer look at how things will work in Texas and which players are best positioned to contend for the trophy. 

What is match play golf?

As suggested by its name, the WGC Match Play differs wildly from the overwhelming majority of tour events — using a different scoring method and format to determine the winner. 

Unlike a standard stroke play affair, where each shot of a player’s round contributes to an overall tournament score, match play golf is purely about one-on-one clashes. 

Each hole is won, lost or drawn based on which of the two players took the least strokes. It does not really matter how many strokes a player has, providing it is less than their opponent. 

A hole win is rewarded with a point. Once a player has an unassailable lead — such as being four points ahead with three holes to play — they are declared the winner. 

Most famously used in the professional game during the Ryder Cup, match play is a format that rewards risk-taking and consistently produces dramatic moments. It is simply must-watch golf. 

How does the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play work?

Hosted at the Austin Country Club, this week’s tournament is an invite-only event and comprises of the top 64 players on the planet according to the Official World Golf Ranking. 

Those unable to take up their invitation — including the likes of Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose and Tiger Woods — had their spots handed to the next highest-ranked individuals on the list to complete the line-up. 

The players have been drawn into 16 pots of four, with each golfer set to face the other three stars in their group in one-on-one matches over the opening three days. 

Group winners will progress to the last-16 stage, where a standard knockout format will see the remaining contenders whittled down over the weekend to one eventual champion. 

Who are the men to watch?

Although this is a wide-open event that has thrown up its fair share of surprise winners over the years, the cream could well rise to the top in 2021. 

World No1 Dustin Johnson lifted the trophy in 2017 and will be keen to deliver a timely reminder of his powers ahead of Augusta — as will Rory McIlroy, who came out on top back in 2015. 

Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau also arrive confident of success after their respective victories in the Players Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month.

But do not count any player out too lightly. Bubba Watson’s 2018 triumph centred around a ruthless display of long hitting, while 2019 champ Kevin Kisner is, in contrast, one of the professional game’s shortest drivers. 

Match play really does give everyone a chance to shine, regardless of their skill set. 

What are they saying?

Kisner, who remains the reigning champion after the 2020 edition of this tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, admits the format suits his game perfectly. 

The 37-year-old American said: "I enjoy the difference in strategy. I love playing someone one-on-one, not just playing the golf course. 

"I enjoy changing things up mid-round with how the match is going. There are a lot of variations through the day. 

"I love making a few pressure-packed putts to keep the momentum on your side, too."

I love playing someone one-on-one, not just playing the golf course Kevin Kisner

Thomas, 27, believes lessons learned from previous experiences in the tournament will help him perform better this year. 

He said: "Something I’ve struggled with in the past is looking too much at what’s going on in other matches or playing to my opponent too much. 

"At the end of the day, if I was teeing it up on a Thursday in a 72-hole stroke play event here, I would fancy my chances of beating most of these guys. 

"I just need to focus on me and stick to my game plan and how we play the golf course this time around."