POWER RANGE CONTINUED
17. Rory McIlroy
18. Ryan Palmer
19. Tony Finau
20. Louis Oosthuizen
21. Patrick Cantlay
22. Brendon Todd
23. Joaquin Niemann (firstborn)
24. Max Homa (firstborn)
Matt Fitzpatrick
26. Lee Westwood
Hideki Matsuyama
28. Tyrrell Hatton
29. Jason Day
30. Ian Poulter
31. Webb Simpson
32. Russell Henley
33. Viktor Hovland (firstborn)
Kevin Kisner
35. Lanto Griffin (newcomer)
36. Carlos Ortiz (firstborn)
37. Shane Lowry
38. Tommy Fleetwood
39. Corey Conners (firstborn)
40. Collin Morikawa (newcomer)
41. Scottie Scheffler (newcomer)
42. Erik van Rooyen (firstborn)
Kevin Streelman
44. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (firstborn)
45. Matt Wallace
46. Harris Engels
47. Marc Leishman
48. Adam Long (firstborn)
49. Kevin Na
50. Bubba Watson
51. Matt Kuchar
52. Mackenzie Hughes (firstborn)
53. Jason Kokrak (firstborn)
54. Victor Perez (firstborn)
55. Talor Gooch (firstborn)
56. Dylan Frittelli
57. JT Poston (firstborn)
58. Sebastián Muñoz (firstborn)
59. Matthew Wolff (firstborn)
60. Bernd Wiesberger
61. Robert MacIntyre (newcomer)
62. Si Woo Kim
63. Andy Sullivan
64. Antoine Rozner (firstborn)
Just as fans of college campuses complete their brackets annually, probably more than anything else in professional golf, the Match Play is the best way for fans to connect emotionally and still be successful compared to others, as seeds simply more often is as friction.
In the first four rounds of the Match Play in Austin CC, only 23 of a possible 64 top seed in each pod survived the Group Stage format. Sixteen progressed from the group, 17-32 at the entrance, 14 selected from the golfers 33-48 and 11 from the bottom 16 played. Perhaps the best example of the competitive balance took place in 2018 when Dustin Johnson was 0-3-0 as the defending champion and leading seed of the tournament.
You can Bracket Challenge for bragging rights and for a fantastic price package. It’s free to play. Consider the AUTOPICK feature and choose from the total seed or chance. You can also copy my bracket if you. If you choose one, you can adjust from there as usual.
As it is two years since the last issue of Match Play, there are 22 first-time contestants in the field. Only the four-man pods with the headline of Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Thomas do not contain at least one debutant.
Each time the game is the format, a unique Power Rankings can be set for each round. Matches and momentum are the most important components that arouse expectations, and therefore a Power Rankings for a full tournament with a grain of salt should be consumed. What does not change, of course, is the corridor.
Austin CC is a par 71 with three par 5s. It tips at just 7,108 meters. The only relevant change is that the bunkers have new sand (due to a project to update the drainage). TifEagle bermuda vegetables are cared for and switched on the Stimpmeter up to 12 feet. The only cut of rough framed bermuda roads and other parts of the shortest grass is two centimeters, and it is not seen overseas.
The weather will be worse before it gets better. A delay due to unfavorable conditions on Wednesday can not be ruled out. Showers will linger Thursday morning before dry air takes over and hangs over the weekend. And of course, given its location, wind will be a throughline for most of the week. Course knowledge and applied experience in it should therefore have value.
After running for the Walter Hager Cup, the champion will receive up to at least 2023-24 550 FedExCup points and PGA TOUR membership. As usual, if a non-member has the upper hand, his equivalent of FedExCup points earned in one of the WGCs completed this season will not contribute to his membership if he accepts his card.
ROB BOLTON’S ANNEXURE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton gives an overview and preview of each tournament from numerous angles. Look for the following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Power rankings (match play)
TUESDAY*: Kragranglys (Corales); Fantasy Insider
SUNDAY: Thin out, Shuffle, Medical extensions, Rookie Watch
* – Rob is a member of the panel of PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which will also be published on Tuesday.