2021 WGC Dell Matchplay Group Betting Analysis March 24th – 28th, 2021 Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,108 Purse: $1...
2021 WGC Dell Matchplay Group Betting Analysis
March 24th – 28th, 2021
Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas
Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,108
Purse: $10.5 million with $1,787,560 to the winner
Defending Champion: Kevin Kisner
This week there are 16 groups of four players in each group. Each player plays the three others in his group and the one with the best record moves to the round of 16.
For groups that are tied a stroke play, a hole-by-hole playoff decides the winner.
Group 1:
Dustin Johnson (1) – Draftkings $11,500, Kevin Na (34) – Draftkings $7,100, Robert MacIntyre (41) – Draftkings $6,500 & Adam Long (61) – Draftkings $6,000 …
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Johnson vs. Long, 4 p.m.; Na vs. MacIntyre, 4:11 p.m.; Thursday – Johnson vs. MacIntyre, 2:32 p.m.; Na vs. Long, 2:43 p.m.; Friday – Johnson vs. Na, TBD; MacIntyre vs. Long, TBD
You would have to imagine that DJ, although he's not firing at the moment, will get through this group. The big danger is Kevin Na but he had his own problems at Sawgrass two weeks ago.
Group winner – Dustin Johnson
Group 2:
Justin Thomas (2) – Draftkings $11,200, Louis Oosthuizen (22) – Draftkings $8,100, Kevin Kisner (34) – Draftkings $7,600 & Matt Kuchar (52) – Draftkings $6,700
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Thomas vs. Kuchar, 1:04 p.m.; Oosthuizen vs. Kisner, 1:15 p.m.; Thursday – Thomas vs. Kisner, 11:36 a.m.; Oosthuizen vs. Kuchar, 11:47 a.m.; Friday – Thomas vs. Oosthuizen, TBD; Kisner vs. Kuchar, TBD
This is the group of death. On paper Justin Thomas is the form dog but Kevin Kisner is a past winner and absolute course specialist in Austin while Louis Oosthuizen is playing well of late and has a serious giant killing record in matchplay.
Group winner – Oosthuizen to edge Kisner.
Group 3:
Jon Rahm (3) – Draftkings $10,700, Ryan Palmer (24) – Draftkings $7,000, & Shane Lowry (38) – Draftkings $7,100 & Sebastian Munoz (56) – Draftkings $6,100
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Rahm vs. Munoz, 11:36 a.m.; Palmer vs. Lowry, 11:47 a.m.; Thursday – Rahm vs. Lowry, 4 p.m.; Palmer vs. Munoz, 4:11 p.m.; Friday – Rahm vs. Palmer, TBD; Lowry vs. Munoz, TBD
This looks like a Rahm vs Lowry group. Shane is playing well tee to green but blowing hold and cold with the putter. Rahm is fiery but he has got to the final before.
Group winner – Shane Lowry
Group 4:
Collin Morikawa (4) – Draftkings $10,400, Billy Horschel (32) – Draftkings $7,200, Max Homa (35) – Draftkings $7,400 & J.T. Poston (63) – Draftkings $6,300
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Morikawa vs. Poston, 2:32 p.m.; Horschel vs. Homa, 2:43 p.m.; Thursday – Morikawa vs. Homa, 1:04 p.m.; Horschel vs. Poston, 1:15 p.m.; Friday – Morikawa vs. Horschel, TBD; Homa vs. Poston, TBD
Morikawa went 76, 66 at the weekend at Sawgrass which shows his strength of character. Winner of the WGC at Concession before that, he should edge this group.
Group Winner – Collin Morikawa.
Group 5:
Bryson DeChambeau (5) – Draftkings $10,900, Tommy Fleetwood (21) – Draftkings $7,800, Si Woo Kim (45) – Draftkings $7,300 & Antoine Rozner (58) – Draftkings $6,200
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – DeChambeau vs. Rozner, 1:48 p.m.; Fleetwood vs. Kim, 1:59 p.m.; DeChambeau vs. Kim, 12:20 p.m.; Fleetwood vs. Rozner, 12:31 p.m.; Friday – DeChambeau vs. Fleetwood, TBD; Kim vs. Rozner, TBD
Bryson will be nailed on to win this but I just wonder if Tommy Fleetwood, knows the course better, will find some Ryder Cup form and come through and cause a massive upset.
Group winner – Tommy Fleetwood
Group 6:
Xander Schauffele (6) – Draftkings $10,000, Scottie Scheffler (30) – Draftkings $7,900, Jason Day (44) – Draftkings $8,400 & Andy Sullivan (57) – Draftkings $6,000
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Schauffele vs. Sullivan, 10:52 a.m.; Scheffler vs. Day, 11:03 a.m.; Thursday – Schauffele vs. Day, 3:16 p.m.; Scheffler vs. Sullivan, 3:27 p.m.; Friday – Schauffele vs. Scheffler, TBD; Day vs. Sullivan, TBD
Jason Day for me is finding form again. Matchplay format suits his strengths. Twice a winner, I'm thinking he will come through.
Group winner – Jason Day.
Group 7:
Patrick Reed (7) – Draftkings $9,600, Joaquin Niemann (26) – Draftkings $8,000, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (33) – Draftkings $7,600 & Bubba Watson (55) – Draftkings $7,400
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Reed vs. Watson, 12:20 p.m.; Niemann vs. Bezuidenhout, 12:31 p.m.; Thursday – Reed vs. Bezuidenhout, 10:52 a.m.; Niemann vs. Watson, 11:03 a.m.; Friday – Reed vs. Niemann, TBD; Bezuidenhout vs. Watson, TBD
Tougher group for Patrick Reed than it looks on paper. But he will soon impose his character on opponents and get through.
Group winner – Pat Reed
Group 8:
Tyrrell Hatton (8) – Draftkings $8,600, Lee Westwood (18) – Draftkings $7,700, Sergio Garcia (39) – Draftkings $8,300 & Matt Wallace (51) – Draftkings $7,000
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Hatton vs. Wallace, 3:16 p.m.; Westwood vs. Garcia, 3:27 p.m.; Thursday – Hatton vs. Garcia, 1:48 p.m.; Westwood vs. Wallace, 1:59 p.m.; Friday – Hatton vs. Westwood, TBD; Garcia vs. Wallace, TBD
Typical shite to have four Europeans together so that 3 get eliminated. Lee Westwood must be knackered by now after his win AND playing Honda last week.
Garcia the man for matchplay here, playing well and putting frailties short in not as exposed in matchplay.
Group winner – Sergio Garcia
Group 9:
Webb Simpson (9) – Draftkings $9,100, Paul Casey (17) – Draftkings $8,900, Mackenzie Hughes (48) – Draftkings $6,100 & Talor Gooch (59) – Draftkings $6,600
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Simpson vs. Gooch, 2:54 p.m.; Casey vs. Hughes, 3:05 p.m.; Thursday – Simpson vs. Hughes, 1:26 p.m.; Casey vs. Gooch, 1:37 p.m.; Friday – Simpson vs. Casey, TBD; Hughes vs. Gooch, TBD
Casey is the guy you don’t want to play matchplay against. Behind that smile and playful head wobble he's the focus and self confidence alone to sicken any opponent nevermind that he's in top form. Could go all the way.
Group winner – Paul Casey
Group 10:
Patrick Cantlay (10) – Draftkings $9,800, Hideki Matsuyama (23) – Draftkings $8,200, Carlos Ortiz (42) – Draftkings $6,800 & Brian Harman (54) – Draftkings $7,200
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Cantlay vs. Harman, 11:58 a.m.; Matsuyama vs. Ortiz, 12:09 p.m.; Thursday – Cantlay vs. Ortiz, 10:30 a.m.; Matsuyama vs. Harman, 10:41 a.m.; Friday – Cantlay vs. Matsuyama, TBD; Ortiz vs. Harman, TBD
I'm going to upset the apple cart and say that Brian Harman will get through. He'll hit every fairway in Austin and he's in great form coming in.
Group winner – Brian Harman
Group 11:
Rory McIlroy (11) – Draftkings $10,200, Cameron Smith (25) – Draftkings $8,50, Lanto Griffin (46) – Draftkings $6,900 & Ian Poulter (60) – Draftkings $6,700
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – McIlroy vs. Poulter, 10:30 a.m.; Smith vs. Griffin, 9:41 a.m.; Thursday – McIlroy vs. Griffin, 2:54 p.m.; Smith vs. Poulter, 3:05 p.m.; Friday – McIlroy vs. Smith, TBD; Griffin vs. Poulter, TBD
Will Pete Cowen be able to fix Rory McIlroy quickly enough to be competitive this week? Hopefully but I think Cam Smith could be a big surprise this week.
Group winner – Cam Smith
Group 12:
Tony Finau (12) – Draftkings $9,200, Jason Kokrak (29) – Draftkings $7,500, Will Zalatoris (40) – Draftkings $7,900 & Dylan Frittelli (64) – Draftkings $6,500
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Finau vs. Frittelli, 1:26 p.m.; Kokrak vs. Zalatoris, 1:37 p.m.; Thursday – Finau vs. Zalatoris, 11:58 a.m.; Kokrak vs. Frittelli, 12:09 p.m.; Friday – Finau vs. Kokrak, TBD; Zalatoris vs. Frittelli, TBD
Probably not the course Tony Finau would like best and this group could provide an upset. But I'll stick with Finau as surely he's due a W soon.
Group winner – Tony Finau
Group 13:
Viktor Hovland (13) – Draftkings $9,400, Abraham Ancer (27) – Draftkings $7,700, Bernd Wiesberger (43) – Draftkings $6,200 & Kevin Streelman (53) – Draftkings $6,300
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Hovland vs. Streelman, 2:10 p.m.; Ancer vs. Wiesberger, 2:21 p.m.; Thursday – Hovland vs. Wiesberger, 12:42 p.m.; Ancer vs. Streelman, 12:53 p.m.; Friday – Hovland vs. Ancer, TBD; Wiesberger vs. Streelman, TBD
Massive chance for Viktor Hovland to show his Ryder Cup credentials this week. Showed at the 2018 U.S. Amateur that matchplay was made for him. Ancer will quietly fancy his chances but Viktor to come through for me.
Group winner – Viktor Hovland
Group 14:
Daniel Berger (14) – Draftkings $9,000, Harris English (19) – Draftkings $7,300, Brendon Todd (47) – Draftkings $6,400 & Erik van Rooyen (62) – Draftkings $6,400
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Berger vs. Van Rooyen, 11:14 a.m.; English vs. Todd, 11:25 a.m.; Thursday – Berger vs. Todd, 3:38 p.m.; English vs. Van Rooyen, 3:49 p.m.; Friday – Berger vs. English, TBD; Todd vs. Van Rooyen, TBD
Not a lot of character in this group. Berger is not a great matchplayer, English is playing well enough to win here.
Group winner – Harris English
Group 15:
Matthew Fitzpatrick (15) – Draftkings $8,700, Matthew Wolff (20) – Draftkings $6,900, Corey Conners (37) – Draftkings $7,800 & Jordan Spieth (49) – Draftkings $9,300
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Fitzpatrick vs. Spieth, 12:42 p.m.; Wolff vs. Conners, 12:53 p.m.; Thursday – Fitzpatrick vs. Conners, 11:14 a.m.; Wolff vs. Spieth, 11:25 a.m.; Friday – Fitzpatrick vs. Wolff, TBD; Conners vs. Spieth, TBD
Spieth and Fitzpatrick both wear their heart on their sleeves and either could prevail. Pity one has to go early. The course is wide enough for Spieth to contend.
Group winner – Jordan Spieth
Group 16:
Sungjae Im (16) – Draftkings $8,800, Victor Perez (31) – Draftkings $6,600, Marc Leishman (36) – Draftkings $6,800 & Russell Henley (50) – Draftkings $7,500
SCHEDULE: Wednesday – Im vs. Henley, 3:38 p.m.; Perez vs. Leishman, 3:49 p.m.; Thursday – Im vs. Leishman, 2:10 p.m.; Perez vs. Henley, 2:21 p.m.; Friday – Im vs. Perez, TBD; Leishman vs. Henley, TBD
Between Perez and Henley here, with Russell edging it after a good Honda showing.
Group winner – Russell Henley
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