WGC Dell Matchplay Tips & Preview: Course Guide, Tee Times & TV

The WGC Dell Matchplay will divide opinion among viewers, with various people relishing a break from the normal format, and with others absolutely hating it.

Here’s how the WGC Dell Matchplay will work this week…

The 64-player field have been drawn in 16 groups of four players, and over the first three days each member of the group will play one 18-hole match against each other member of the group. The matches can be halved, and on Friday evening the 16 group winners go forward into the next round to play a weekend of knock-out ties.

The semi-finals and final are staged on Sunday, which will mean the winner will have played seven matches over five days.

As for the course, water comes into play on the back nine and even though the 2019 final was between Kisner and Kuchar, distance is a benefit here.

The course has three par 5s which are all eagle opportunities, with the average scoring on the holes ranging between 4.26 and 4.31. More importantly, the course is made up of various par 4s which range from 300 to 400 yards, the birdie percentage on these holes range from 23.9% to 31.9%, so it’s important to target players who score well on shorter par 4s.

With match-play it’s all about birdies and eagles, it’s slightly irrelevant if a players hits a few double bogeys, therefore birdie percentage will be factored into my tips.

This course requires players to have a hot putter and be firing around the greens.

Bryson DeChambeau 14/1 (4 places)

This might not be the most inspired selection you’ll read this week, and I’m not normally for backing players in the 14/1 region to win golf competitions. However, Bryson has proven match-play experience, and should be able to intimidate his opposition on the course if nothing else.

DeChambeau might decide to play a more calculated game like we saw at the Players, but we know that if needs be he can have a crack at a couple of these holes. If he’s behind in a game, it won’t be a surprise to see him try and drive a couple of the par 4s.

Bryson’s putter is also running hot, he’s gained more than 2.7 shots on the field in his last three events. He’s got a fairly easy group, with Si Woo Kim who is a bit of a Pete Dye specialist the only player likely to cause any headaches.

Bryson DeChambeau 1pt e/w 14/1 (4 places)

Viktor Hovland 25/1 (8 places)

Slightly contradictory due to being on the same side of the draw as Bryson, but Hovland is another who should benefit from this format.

Hovland’s been playing very well but the odd hole has knocked him out of contention various times in the last couple of months. He missed the cut at the Players which doesn’t really concern me. He’s gained shots with the putter four of his last five events, and is one of the leading players on Tour in terms of birdies in the last three months.

Hovland should cruise out of his group and will likely meet Morikawa or Homa in the second round.

Viktor Hovland 1pt e/w 25/1 (8 places)

Patrick Cantlay 25/1 (8 places)

Despite having Hideki in his group, Patrick Cantlay’s draw has been fairly kind. Cantlay has been performing well on par 4s between 300-400 yards in the last six months, and has also been making a lot of birdies.

His putter has been fairly quiet in the last two PGA Tour events, but it can get hot which is needed at this course as he showed at the AmEx.

Cantlay is likely to play Reed or Niemann in the next round.

Patrick Cantlay 1pt e/w 25/1 (8 places)

Jon Rahm 7/2 Top 4 Finish

Jon Rahm will play well at this course, but I’d fancy a handful of players to take him down in the match-play. That said, like Hovland he’s been making a lot of birdies, and just needs to find some consistency with the putter.

The Spaniard has the easiest draw in my eyes, Ryan Palmer is likely to be the only one who causes him problems in Group 3, and then he won’t have too much trouble in the Sweet 16 phase. He will then likely play Rory McIlroy or Xander Schauffele for a spot in the final four.

Jon Rahm 7/2 Top 4 Finish