The world’s best players are bound for Austin, Texas, 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 this week, and with eight of the top-12 players in the world (as well as 63 of the top 69) set to compete, there are some matches that stand out among the rest.
Wednesday’s slate alone features a pair of Ryder Cup dogs, a major championship clash, a battle for Southern Californian supremacy and a potential Presidents Cup preview.
Check out the top five opening day matches to watch in Austin.
WGC-Match Play: Wednesday tee times | Odds and picks
Ian Poulter has broken the hearts of American Ryder Cup fans for years, compiling a 15-8-2 overall record, 6-0-1 in singles. Scheffler isn’t nearly as emotive as Poulter, but can sure get it done in match play. The 25-year-old was runner-up to Billy Horschel last year at the WGC-Match Play and then went 2-0-1 in his Ryder Cup debut, including a Sunday singles win over world No. 1 Jon Rahm.
Poulter will want some revenge after last year’s Round of 16 clash with Scheffler where he was battered by the young American, 5 and 4. Game on.
Scottie Scheffler and Ian Poulter watch Scheffler’s drive from the No. 6 tee during a Round of 16 match at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
A pair of American major champions squaring off in a group full of major champions? Enough said. Next!
Jordan Spieth plays his second shot on the eighth hole during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 05, 2022 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images for AT&T)
This one plays on a few levels. Homa and Wolff both hale from Southern California and will be playing for some Golden State bragging rights, but this match also features a pair of NCAA champions. Homa won the 2013 individual national championships at Atlanta’s Capital City Club as a member of Cal’s golf team, while Wolff claimed the 2019 individual title at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a freshman at Oklahoma State.
Jack Dempsey, NCAA Photos
With all due respect to Richard Bland, this one is all for DeChambeau.
Golf fans haven’t seen the PGA Tour’s most-polarizing figure in two months since he missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and his return to competition has been highly anticipated since he stuck by the PGA Tour amid rumors of his involvement with the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Now back from injury, it’s time to see what DeChambeau can do.
Bryson DeChambeau watches his shot from the ninth tee during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – North Course. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)
Kisner won here in 2019 and finished runner-up in 2018 and will undoubtedly use this week to showcase his talents for next year’s Ryder Cup and this year’s Presidents Cup, where Leishman will most likely be a key player for the Internationals at Quail Hollow. Speaking of the Presidents Cup, these two have some history dating back to 2017, when Kisner and Phil Mickelson took one match and halved another against Leishman and Jason Day.
Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner of the U.S. Team celebrate with “The Three Amigos” celebration on the 18th green after going one up against Marc Leishman and Jason Day and the International Team during Friday four-ball matches of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club on September 29, 2017 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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