Match-Play Madness: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not At WGC?

Okay, time to get down to the nuts and bolts of match play.

That ain’t easy.

Match play basically sucks.  If the WGC stuff was pure match play, you could end up on Sunday with just four guys on the golf course who no one wants to watch.

Talk about a ratings crash?

Ratings will take a huge dip for one simple reason — Tiger Woods is not on the grounds this week at Austin Country Club.  After going back-to-back weeks, Woods has played his final event before The Masters.  His presence in the field set attendance and television ratings records for the Valspar and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

No one drives the needle like Eldrick.  Especially when he’s playing well and his Comeback Tour is way ahead of schedule after a runner-up at Valspar and a tie for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

But we digress.

The match play has the world’s No. 1 thru 4-ranked players who weren’t on the grounds at Bay Hill last week.  Let’s take a quick look at them and see who’s hot and who’s not.

DUSTIN JOHNSON:  D.J. is looking good but not as good as he did last year coming into this event.  He was over-powering in 2017 and waltzed right through this field — a literal piece of cake although Jon Rahm made a fight of it the final round.  D.J.?  Maybe not hot but pretty darn warm.

JUSTIN THOMAS:  J.T. took some time off after having his wisdom teeth yanked a couple of weeks ago.  Hot?  Yes, sure.  Unbeatable?  No.  Look for him to advance pretty far this week.

JON RAHM:  Pretty tough competitor…….you might see him in the final again.  Hot enough.

JORDAN SPIETH:  Definitely running cold, very cold.  Might not even make it out of his group.  Will he get beat by Patrick Reed?  Probably.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA:  Hasn’t been back long enough from his wrist injury to pass judgement.

RORY MCILROY:  Back in the top 10, checking in at No. 7.  Definitely hot.

And these guys to watch:

PATRICK REED:  We’re sick and tired of television announcers telling us what a great match play guy he is.  It’s like they’re using it as an excuse as to why he’s not winning more often in PGA Tour events.  Okay, now is time for Fatrick, oops, make that Patrick, to prove something.

PAUL CASEY:  Running warm.  Won Valspar then had to fly back to the U.K. to attend the funeral of a friend.  May have found his putter at last.

JASON DAY:   We think he’s running cold despite what others might say.

BUBBA WATSON:   Getting hot in time for The Masters.  Totally trending in the right direction, should do well this week.

MATT KUCHAR:   Koooch will top 10 you to death.

PATRICK CANTLAY:  The kid’s got game.  Like his chances this week.

HAOTONG LI:  Here’s a great sleeper pick.  In a tough group.  Impressive in Europe earlier this season.

LUKE LIST:  Very impressive young player.  Hits it a mile!

Okay, that’s our list, just a few.

Who do you like?