The world’s top golfers will head to Austin, Texas this week for the 2017 staging of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play tournament. A cool $9.5 million is at stake for the elite field with the champion grabbing not only the $1.62 million top prize but also the prestigious Walter Hagen Cup. Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of the year’s second WGC event and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for this match play tournament.
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2017 WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Preview
Where: Austin Country Club – Austin, Texas
When: March 22-26, 2017
Line: view all 2017 WGC Dell Match Play lines
TV Broadcast: Golf Channel/NBC
Favorites – Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy
There’s no hotter golfer in the world right now than world no. 1 Dustin Johnson. The big-hitting American has six top-6 finishes in his last seven worldwide starts, including a stirring one-stroke victory at the WGC-Mexico Championship a couple of weeks ago. On the season, Johnson leads the PGA Tour in both strokes gained: tee-to-green (2.436) and total strokes gained (2.953).
If there’s one player, though, who can stop Johnson from winning back-to-back WGC titles this week, it’s got to be Rory McIlroy. The four-time major champion has been playing some solid golf of late as well, nabbing top-7 finishes in each of his last two starts, including a T4 at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. McIlroy thrilled the masses in that event, firing 65-69 in the final two rounds to finish two strokes shy of eventual champion Marc Leishman.
High-Value Sleepers – Marc Leishman and Gary Woodland
One golfer who’s primed for a good showing this week is Marc Leishman. What makes Leishman such a great pick this week is his excellent play with the flat stick. He’s second in the PGA Tour in strokes gained via putting with an impressive 1.178 average. He rode that hot putter to victory at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, shooting an 11-under-par total of 277.
Another golfer who can make a strong run at the WGC Dell Match Play title this week is Gary Woodland. The Kansas native has been playing some outstanding golf of late, finishing in the top-20 in five of his last eight starts, including a second-place showing at the Honda Classic last February. Key to Woodland’s strong start this season has been his terrific play with the driver. He is 16th in the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging 304.5 yards per drive this season. That powerful swing will be a major weapon for Woodland when tackling the notoriously tough Austin course.
Long Shot – Si Woo Kim
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is Si Woo Kim. He replaced Rickie Fowler in the WGC field after the 28-year-old decided to skip this week’s match play event. He finished tied for 49th at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, shooting a three-over-par total of 291. Kim rose to prominence last year when he won the Wyndham Championship by a whopping five strokes.
Writer’s Prediction
Rory McIlroy wins the WGC Match Play for the second time in his career.
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