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.
Friday’s slate alone features a clash of Group 10 undefeated players, last year’s defending champion and runner-up in must-win situations, the man who has Austin Country Club’s number and plenty of chaos.
Check out the top five matches to watch during the third day of action in Austin.
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The only clash on Friday featuring a pair of 2-0 players (thanks to Paul Casey’s back problems). With Casey out of the mix and Oosthuizen with one lone win (Casey’s concession), this is a simple win-and-your-in scenario for Conners and Noren. Conners has yet to advance to the knockout stage while Noren advanced to the quarters in 2017 and finished third in 2018.
Corey Conners plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second day of the 2022 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The defending champion is 2-0 entering the final round of pool play and has his fate in his hands. Beat Thomas Pieters and he’s just a few more matches away from being the only player other than Tiger Woods to defend a WGC event (Woods accomplished that feat seven different times).
A loss would mean a playoff with at least Pieters and potentially Min Woo Lee if he’s able to defeat Tom Hoge, who’s 0-2 this week.
Billy Horschel on the putting green during a practice round for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports)
Scheffler, last year’s runner-up to Horschel, also needs to win to set up a playoff with the undefeated Fitzpatrick. Tommy Fleetwood could join that party, as well, if he’s victorious against fellow countryman and match-play maven Ian Poulter.
Scottie Scheffler chips to the 18th hole prior to the 2022 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Chuck Burton/Getty Images)
Kisner is going to be on this list until he loses, simple as that. The 38-year-old is undefeated this week, won here in 2019 and finished runner-up in 2018. After defeating Luke List, 1 up, Kisner has now won a record 18 matches since the WGC-Match Play moved to Austin Country Club in 2016. I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again: 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 2022 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)
The scenarios are endless. In those three groups, there isn’t a player with two wins or two loses, meaning each are more than up for grabs. We’ve all heard the adage that “anything can happen in match play,” especially at a course designed by Pete Dye.
Jordan Spieth competes against Keegan Bradley on the opening day of the 2022 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. (Photo: Mikala Compton/American-Statesman)
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All times Eastern.
Friday, March 25
TV
Golf Channel: 2-8 p.m.
Radio
SiriusXM: 2-8 p.m.
STREAM
ESPN+: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
NBCsports.com and NBC Sports app: 2-8 p.m.
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