Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama Skipping WGC Match Play

When play begins Wednesday at Austin Country Club, at least two big names won’t be in the field of 64 at the WGC Match Play — Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama.

With the 2022 Masters just 17 days away, the two could be taking some early scouting trips to Augusta National where Matsuyama is the defending champion and McIlroy needs a Green Jacket to complete a career Grand Slam.

There will still be a strong field in Austin, headed by defending champion Billy Horschel, who edged Scottie Scheffler in last year’s final — 2-and-1.

The seedings for the field of 64 won’t come out until Tuesday and they’ll be based on he Official World Golf Rankings as of that day, March 22.  Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 1, will be the overall top seed.  Newest entrant into the world’s top 10 is Sam Burns, he’ll be in the 10th spot in the OWGR thanks to his sudden-death playoff win over Davis Riley at the Valspar on Sunday.

Don’t look for Phil Mickelson either.  Mickelson’s is taking an extended leave from golf (code for “he’s been suspended by the PGA Tour”).  Harris English is still sidelined with injuries and he’s out indefinitely.  Players champion Cam Smith is home in Jacksonville, he withdrew last week to spend a few extra days with his mother and sister before they return to Australia.

Biggest question this week?  Will Bryson DeChambeau finally show up and play?  DeChambeau has had lingering pain from a wrist and hip injury.  He withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he was defending champion and wasn’t in the field for the Tour’s flagship event — The Players.

On Monday, Valspar winner Sam Burns, who climbed into the 10th spot in the world rankings, withdrew from the WGC Match Play.

While Burns made it into the top 10, Valspar runnerup Davis Riley jumped from No. 399 in the world to No. 172.

Justin Thomas Plays The “Could Have” Card After Finishing Third:

For the first three rounds at the Valspar, Justin Thomas seemingly owned the back nine at the Copperhead course.  He had played it 14-under par through his first three rounds.

But on Sunday, nothing good happened for J.T.

“I didn’t make enough birdies,” Thomas said after finishing tied for third with Matthew NeSmith at 16-under par.  “I didn’t hit the ball as well today. Got a couple of bad breaks, which is a bummer. I laid that ball up pretty nice there on 11 and just right into a hole there at the end of the fairway. That’s one I’m usually licking my chops, kind of pitching off the green. And then I was just, pretty much just trying to figure out how to hit the green.”

That bogey at the par five was his first on the back nine for the week.  Down the stretch, he managed just two birdies after making four on Saturday and five on Friday.

“I didn’t really do anything at all today and I very easily could have won the tournament,” he said. “I mean, good drive on 18, and I have a wedge in there and could be in this playoff just as easily.”

But his drive on 18 found a right fairway bunker, forcing him to punch his ball out and scramble for a closing par.  No shot at birdie.

“But a lot to build on, a lot of positives, and we got a big stretch coming up, so I’m excited for it,” said Thomas, who has now gone more than a year without a win.

“I mean it’s coming, I just got to be patient and be in the right frame of mind because you can’t force anything in this game,” he said. “As soon as I start doing that you get down some rabbit holes. I’m doing a lot of really, really good things. I just need to keep putting myself there and it will start happening.”