After being canceled last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play returns to Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas, this week. Sixty-four golfers will tee off for the first of three round-robin matches Wednesday morning. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 WGC Match Play, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.
Following the conclusion of the round-robin stage Friday, the 16 group-of-four winners will advance to the weekend’s knockout stage. The Round of 16 will be played Saturday morning, the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon, the semifinals Sunday morning and the final and third-place matches played Sunday afternoon.
An alternate field of 132 is in the Dominican Republic this week for the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. The 2021 Masters Tournament is just two weeks away.
Also see:
2021 WGC Match Play: Fantasy Golf Top 16
Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. ET.
16. Russell Henley (+8000)
Playing in the WGC-Match Play event for the first time since 2018 but enters tied for second on the PGA Tour in Bogey Avoidance and third in Par 4 Efficiency: 350-400 Yards. He still needs a victory to earn an invitation to Augusta National in two weeks, and motivation is key in handicapping this event each year.
15. Jordan Spieth (+2500)
His three top-3 finishes through six events this year are already more than he had in 20 events in 2020. He has played this event all four years it has been in Austin but hasn’t advanced past the group stage since 2016.
14. Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)
Tied for 13th on Tour this season in Par 4 Efficiency for our key distance. He’s averaging 1.46 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and 0.96 SG: Approach per round through 39 measured rounds on the season.
13. Webb Simpson (+3500)
Has historically struggled in match play but should be motivated to improve his form ahead of the Masters. He’s 20th on Tour in Birdie or Better Percentage and tied for second in Bogey Avoidance.
12. Joaquin Niemann (+5000)
Sixth on Tour in Birdie or Better Percentage, 21st in Bogey Avoidance and 12th in Par 4 Efficiency: 350-400 Yards. He led the field at last week’s Honda Classic with 1.40 SG: Off-the-Tee per round in a T-25 finish.
11. Rory McIlroy (+2000)
Won the 2015 Match Play at TPC Harding Park and finished fourth in Austin in 2016. He lost in the Round of 16 in 2019. He has had difficulties this year stringing together four solid rounds but can be as good as anyone for one day.
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10. Viktor Hovland (+3300)
Hovland’s seemingly-carefree attitude should be well-suited for the match-play format. His ball-striking and play off-the-tee are well-suited to the venue as he makes his debut as a two-time PGA Tour champ.
9. Tony Finau (+2800)
Didn’t make it to the Round of 16 in either of his first two appearances at Austin Country Club. He’s coming off a missed cut at The Players Championship but already has three runner-up finishes in seven events this year.
8. Daniel Berger (+3000)
The No. 7 golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings has a very winnable group with Harris English (No. 22), Brendon Todd (50) and Erik van Rooyen (108) filling it out. He tied for ninth at The Players while ranking fourth among those to make the cut with 2.31 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.
7. Xander Schauffele (+2500)
Third in the Golfweek rankings but shares just the seventh-best odds to win this week. His 1-2 PGA Tour playoff record is concerning come Sunday, but he’s the class of his group and should advance to the weekend.
6. Patrick Cantlay (+2800)
Didn’t make it out of the group stage in two visits to Austin CC but his play makes him a strong fit for the course. He’s fourth in Par 4 Efficiency and Bogey Avoidance, and 11th in Birdie or Better Percentage.
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5. Dustin Johnson (+1400)
Won this event in 2017 and enters as the No. 1 golfer in the world, but there should be concerns over his motivation as he looks to defend his green jacket in two weeks. Playing a max of seven rounds in five days doesn’t seem like his ideal tune-up scenario for Augusta National.
4. Jon Rahm (+1400)
Tied for ninth at The Players for his fourth top-10 result in six events this year. He’s the event’s No. 3 seed but shares the best odds while sitting second in the Golfweek rankings.
3. Collin Morikawa (+2200)
Won the WGC-Workday Championship last month and will look to beat most of the same competition again in a different format. His 1.19 SG: Approach per round will play well with Austin CC’s small greens.
2. Justin Thomas (+1400)
Took last week off following his Players Championship victory. He finished fourth in 2018 but didn’t make it past the group stage in three other trips to Austin for this event.
1. Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)
The PGA Tour leader in SG: Off-the-Tee can intimidate most playing partners with his added distance. He had a couple of tune-ups for this event while in the final Sunday pairing at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.
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Golfweek:
- Thomas celebrated Players win with chicken fingers, bottle of wine
- Kisner gets tough challenge in WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play draw
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