WGC Match Play Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements

THERE is a new title sponsor and a new venue, but if the WGC DELL Match Play Championship provides a final that comes anywhere close to matching the one that saw Jason Day beat Victor 'Houdini' Dubuisson in 2014 then we could all be in for a real treat.

It will be the first time this season that Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day., Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Adam Scott will all be in the field together and to pick a winner you may as well stick a pin in and see who it lands on.

I think that Phil Mickelson is going to surprise a few people. Not many people know this, but he leads the scoring averages in 2016, is making lots and lots of birdies and, crucially, is finding fairways from the tee after spending the winter working harder than ever before on his swing. Having been written off, the left-hander vowed to prove the critics wrong and he has done everything right so far, other than winning a tournament.

Matchplay should suit him anyway because wayward play is only going to cost you a hole, but his Ryder Cup record is shocking. Don'y judge him on that - almost every current US Ryder Cup golfer has a dreadful matchplay record. This is different. Mickelson will be playing for himself, free from pressure, able to enjoy himself.

McIlroy is another who should enjoy this week. His play has been erratic, to say the least, but he is the defending champion, having beaten Gary Woodland in a mediocre final. The Northern Irishman was ranked number one in the world when he took the title, and he wants that ranking back from Jordan Spieth. He has made heaps of birdies and eagles and this tournament, being played at Austin Country Club in Texas, is made for him. While his driving has been strangely off-key, his new left-hand-below-right putting grip has given him a new-found confidence on the greens and all his rivals know that the week McIlroy turns up with all guns blazing is the week the rest of them may as well pack their suitcases and head home.

Day will also be raring to go having bounced back to form at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The Australian looked out of sorts until arriving in Florida, but is back to his brilliant best and will take some stopping. There is also a case to be made for Watson, who fears nobody and positively thrives in this format. He hits the ball miles and when he has his eye in on the greens there is nobody better.

You could also make a case for Fowler or Johnson. Europe has a decent record in this event. Apart from McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Darren Clarke have all won in the past. I wish I could make a case for Spieth, but I fear he may struggle again.

The event starts with 64 players split into 16 brackets, each comprising four players. The top player in each bracket goes through and then it is straight knockout - last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final and third-fourth place playoff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tXL46LXE4Y

The perception may is that this is a format that produces surprises and of courses there will be some unexpected results, but the very best players tend to survive until the latter stages. Since the tournament began in 1999, only seven winners have been ranked outside the top 16, and four of those came in the first four years. And you would hardly describe Hunter Mahan (ranked 21) in 2012 and Matt Kuchar (also 21) the following year as shock winners.

So forget about the outsiders and focus on the bog boys to find your winner.

Betting Picks

To Win. Phil Mickelson. Has everything it takes to win

Each Way. Rory McIlroy. Write him off at your peril

Each Way. Jason Day. Back to his very, very best

Fantasy Picks

Phil Mickelson. Will fear nobody

Rory McIlroy. Desperate to win before Augusta

Jason Day. Looking to become world No1

Rickie Fowler. Doesn't have bad weeks

Paul Casey. Has the game to win

Danny Willett. At home in this company now

Victor Dubuisson. Never write him off in this format

Dustin Johnson. Ready to win again

Adam Scott. At the peak of his powers