2021 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play

[Carolina Speed]

With the exception of Brooks Koepka, all of the best players in the world are the WGC-Match Play event.
First round notable winners:
Ian Poulter whips McIlroy 6 & 5
Cameron Smith over Lanto Griffin 1 up
Scheffler over Jason Day 2 up
Berger over Van Rooyen 6 & 4
Rahm over Munoz 1 up
Dylan Fritelli over media darling Tony Finau 6 & 5
Patrick Reed T with B. Watson
Jordan Spieth wins his first match over Matthew Fitzpatrick 3 & 1
I'll update the rest later. I'm going to play 9 myself this afternoon.

 

[Carolina Speed]

With the exception of Brooks Koepka, all of the best players in the world are the WGC-Match Play event.
First round notable winners:
Ian Poulter whips McIlroy 6 & 5
Cameron Smith over Lanto Griffin 1 up
Scheffler over Jason Day 2 up
Berger over Van Rooyen 6 & 4
Rahm over Munoz 1 up
Dylan Fritelli over media darling Tony Finau 6 & 5
Patrick Reed T with B. Watson
Jordan Spieth wins his first match over Matthew Fitzpatrick 3 & 1
I'll update the rest later. I'm going to play 9 myself this afternoon.

In other notable first round matchups:
Matt Kuchar def. Justin Thomas 3 & 2
2019 Champion Kevin Kisner def. Oosthuizen 2 & 1
Horschel def. Homa 1 up
JT Poston tied Collin Morikawa
Antoine Rozner def, Chambeau 2 up
Garcis def. Westwood 3 and 2
Simpson def. Gooch 6 & 5

 

[Carolina Speed]

Here's the final 16:
Top Half:
Billy Horschel
Kevin Streelman
Tommy Fleetwood
Dylan Frittelli

Sergio Garcia
McKenzie Hughes
Robert McIntyre
Victor Perez

Bottom Half
Matt Kuchar
Jordan Spieth
Bubba Watson
Brian Harman

Scottie Scheffler
Ian Poulter
Jon Rahm
Erik Van Rooyen

Interesting Brackets with a lot of big names not making the final 16 including...
World Number 1 Dustin Johnson
Rory McIlroy
Justin Thomas
Bryson DeChambeau
Patrick Reed
Jason Day
New media darling Tony Finau

 

[Carolina Speed]

Here's the final Four:
Victor Perez
Matt Kuchar
Billy Horschel
Scottie Scheffler
The averaging ranking of the four that are left is 36.
Disappointed that DeChambeau, McIIroy or Spieth are not in the final four. Spieth had a chance for the final four yesterday, but lost to the aging Matt Kuchar. Got it hand to Kuch though. He rolled in in some clutch puts and Spieth wasted several opportunities to put him away.

 

[Don Wassall]

Billy Horschel defeats Scottie Scheffler in the final. That matchup had to be disappointing to most golf fans but shows again the quality and depth of the PGA Tour, for better or worse.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Billy Horschel defeats Scottie Scheffler in the final. That matchup had to be disappointing to most golf fans but shows again the quality and depth of the PGA Tour, for better or worse.

Thanks Don for updating who won.
This week is the Valero Texas Open. A warm up to next weeks Masters. Most of the big names are skipping this tournament. However, interestingly, Jordan Spieth is there.
Other story lines include Rickie Fowler. Why? Because he has to win to get into the Masters. If he doesn't, it will be this first time in ten years.
Other familiar names include:
Phil Mickelson
Gary Woodland
Keegan Bradley
Jim Furyk
Zac Johnson
...and last weeks runner up Scottie Scheffler could be one to watch. He is a Texan and more than likely knows the course very well.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Thanks Don for updating who won.
This week is the Valero Texas Open. A warm up to next weeks Masters. Most of the big names are skipping this tournament. However, interestingly, Jordan Spieth is there.
Other story lines include Rickie Fowler. Why? Because he has to win to get into the Masters. If he doesn't, it will be this first time in ten years.
Other familiar names include:
Phil Mickelson
Gary Woodland
Keegan Bradley
Jim Furyk
Zac Johnson
...and last weeks runner up Scottie Scheffler could be one to watch. He is a Texan and more than likely knows the course very well.

Jordan Spieth held the early lead yesterday at -5, but Villegas was the first round leader at -8.
As I speak the leaders:
T1. Kang -7
T1. Villegas -7
T3. Spieth -5 Spieth has an afternoon tee time.
Fowler in trouble of missing the cut and The Masters is at +4 after.
Mickelson +6

 

[icsept]

Ricky Fowler’s career has dropped off a cliff. Spieth is T-2 early through his 2nd round. This is a weak field, but a win for Spieth would be huge to break his slump and head into the Masters with momentum and confidence.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Ricky Fowler’s career has dropped off a cliff. Spieth is T-2 early through his 2nd round. This is a weak field, but a win for Spieth would be huge to break his slump and head into the Masters with momentum and confidence.

Yes. Very weak field and Spieth should be dominating. However, he's blowing a good early round by bogeying two of the last three holes. But it's still early. Maybe he can right the ship.

 

[Don Wassall]

The last four posts belong in the existing 2021 PGA Tour thread, or in a new thread just for the Valero Open. Why post about the Valero Open in the Match Play thread??