2022 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: How to watch the 5 best matches on Thursday

March 24, 2022

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The world’s best players are in Austin, Texas, this week for a unique stop on the men’s professional golf schedule.

Austin Country Club plays host to the 2022 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play once again, and with eight of the top-12 players in the world (as well as 63 of the top 69) in the bracket, some matches stand out among the rest.

Thursday’s slate alone features a Match Play record holder, a duel between major champions, a must-win match to avoid elimination, and a Sin City showdown pitting the old school vs. new.

Check out the top five matches to watch during the second day of action in Austin (all times Eastern).

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Kisner’s 4-and-3 defeat of Marc Leishman was his 17^th match won since the WGC-Match Play moved to Austin Country Club in 2016, breaking a tie with Matt Kuchar. The 38-year-old won here in 2019 and finished runner-up in 2018. If there’s a player to watch dissect the Pete Dye design this week, it’s Kisner.

Kevin Kisner tees off during the first round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament. (Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)

Both players lost on Wednesday to the participants in the match above, which makes this a borderline must-win for two of the favorites in the field. Thomas, the top seed in the group, is an undefeated 2-0-0 in Ryder Cup singles matches, but 0-2-0 in the Presidents Cup. In four appearances for the Internationals, Leishman is an unbeaten 2-0-2 and will hope he gets Presidents Cup JT on Thursday.

Playing Captain Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann pose for a photo with the cup prior to their Thursday four-ball match on day one of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on December 12, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Not only do Na and McNealy both reside in Las Vegas, but both are tied for the lead in Group 14 and will clash on Thursday afternoon. McNealy made quick work of Joaquin Niemann on Wednesday, dispatching the Genesis Invitational champion, 8 and 6, while Na had to grind out a 1-up win over Russell Henley. McNealy has the youth advantage, while Na has the experience, advancing to the Round of 16 in 2017 and quarterfinals in 2019.

Maverick McNealy of the United States looks on the third hole during the first day of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 23, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Group 11 is the only group with four major champions, so each match holds at least a little watchable value. We’re highlighting this one mainly for Spieth, the Texan fan-favorite who has a flair for performing well in his home state and could put himself in the driver’s seat to advance to the Round of 16 for a second consecutive year with a win. But don’t count out Rose, who also advanced to the Round of 16 the last time he teed it up in Austin in 2019.

Jordan Spieth tees off during the first round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament. (Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)

The Team TaylorMade match. The two were on opposite sides of the TaylorMade Driving Relief event in May of 2020 that raised $5.5 million for COVID-19 front-line efforts, where Johnson and Rory McIlroy defeated Wolff and Rickie Fowler. Outside of that charity clash at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida, they don’t have much shared history.

Johnson claimed the 2017 Match Play, his fifth of six WGC titles, and is a dog in match play (2-1-1 in Presidents Cup singles, 4-1-0 in Ryder Cup singles). Wolff’s form has been lacking recently, but he has the mentality to grind and could be a stone in Johnson’s shoe.