Apparently world’s No. 2 Justin Thomas was totally in over his head in the same group with Kevin Kisner and Matt Kuchar at the WGC-Match Play.
After the first two grinding days of intense competition at Austin Country Club, Players champion J.T. was skunked (0-2) and headed for an early exit on Friday.
Thomas found himself in the same group with the 2019 finalists and once again, Kuchar and Kisner were up to their old tricks as both were 2-0 after Thursday’s second round of matches and headed for another mano-a-mano showdown but this time simply for the right to make it to the round of 16.
It’s been typical match play with plenty of upsets, plenty of surprises, plenty of action on a course that sets up so very well for excitement down the home stretch.
The 2-0-0 Club:
Exactly 10 players out of the 64 won both their matches the first two rounds. The two-and-oh lineup featured: Patrick Cantlay, Kuchar and Kisner, Abraham Ancer, Mackenzie Hughes, Jon Rahm, Ryan Palmer, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Texas Longhorn alum Dylan Fritelli. No shock at all to see Poulter among the unbeatens. He’s a beast at match play and a stalwart for the past two decades on the European Ryder Cup team. Rahm is the only one of the top five seeds to go unbeaten in the first two rounds. Biggest surprise in that unbeaten group? Has to be 48-seed Mackenzie Hughes.
The Dreaded 0-2-0 Club:
This is the club no one wants to belong to. It’s a distinguished list starting with second-seed Thomas, who is playing the equivalent of a practice round on Friday before he heads home to begin his prep work for The Masters in two weeks. Jason Day was winless along with Hideki Matsuyama, Louie Oosthuizen, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Andy Sullivan, Sebastian Munoz, Kevin Na, Corey Conners and Lanto Griffin.
Plenty of Meaningful Friday Matches:
Good news is that three of the top five seeds are still alive with Bryson DeChambeau at 1-1-0 after that embarrassing Wednesday loss to Antoine Rozner, who had to make his way from Nairobi, Kenya all the way to Austin then overcame the jet lag to take down DeChambeau on day one. Top seed and world’s No. 1 Dustin Johnson is 1-0-1 and Rahm, of course, unbeaten in Group 3 and headed for a third-round showdown with fellow unbeaten Ryan Palmer for a spot in the final 16.
Collin Morikawa, whose game seems well suited to match play, was a surprising 0-1-1 with an early ticket home come Friday afternoon.
The final 16 will head to their Saturday morning matches then the eight survivors will duke it out Saturday afternoon to determine the fantastic four.
Sunday morning will determine the finalists and the losers headed for the third-place match.
At this point, it’s darn impossible to predict who will hoist the trophy on Sunday.
One thing’s for sure, it won’t be a repeat of the 2019 Kuchar-Kisner match.
Those guys will be fighting it out for a spot in the round of 16.
There’s enough star power to make it interesting, enough upset potential to make it uber-interesting.
Such is the fickle nature of match play.
15 Comments
baxter cepeda
Day 3 of round robin match play: when many top pros play for pride. Or Nothing.
I still don’t get how they don’t create up to 4 consolation matches Sunday afternoon—to avoid the one knock on match play — but they have a bunch of meaningless matches today (meaningless unless 3rd in group play gets players more money and points than 4th place Guys).
Single elimination match play has its draw backs but day 2 was nice before with half the field left; because it allowed the coverage to focus on the remaining matches more; rather than continuing to jump around all over the place.
Still, it’s been fun as always and it is only getting warmed up.
McKenzie is a surprise but not after watching him.
Tom Edrington
One of top 16 makes it? It’s why sponsors/advertisers hate match play, last time (2019) it was Kuchar-Kisner, ah blah; After watching what has happened, I would be feeling all that great if I was Steve Stricker.
baxter cepeda
You win some you lose some.
It’s incredible what happened with the top seeds but with Tiger on the mend does all that matter really?
Everyone is loving the competition. This weekend is going to be super fun regardless of who is left; which btw is a very deserving group and more than adequate for viewing.
Kuch-kisner was fine last year and this year it was one of the highly anticipated and most covered matches.
Things change.
This event creates change; it creates stars imo.
Quite a few no names from this event will soon be used to promote other events. Dubuison went from a no name to a guy still used to promote events based on his work in match play years ago.
Mckennzie Hughes is becoming a star this week.
The ratings guys should also consider how much more casual viewers pay attention to the competition throughout the week because it is match play; regardless of who it is.
One of my kids said yesterday she wished every week was match play.
She understands you lose some with match play. But it’s clear she feels we win more with match play.
And Personally I think Kevin Na will be missed more than DJ this weekend. But that’s another story.
Tom Edrington
I think Steve Stricker has cause for concern….
baxter cepeda
It’s nothing new that the euros can match play. Their like the old Soviet hockey team at this point.
Paddy will have tough choices between all these new guys and the proven old guys whom have been playing well. I would stick with the old guys; if it ain’t broke…
As for America we have Sheffler now. And the smiling assassin is back. So we got that going for us.
One day the US Ryder Cup team will go all Miracle and leave all its big shots at home; and will win with a cast of gutsy guys.
This event Obvio should be considered more than most for picking the teams.
Right now for US I like Harman, Billy, kisner, kuchar, Berger, Simpson, Reed, JT, spieth, Morikawa, Palmer and Na. That team has a chance to beat euros at match play.
All those American stars uninterested in reping the US of A should really start staying home. Our big stars often aren’t doing much in match play anyhow, especially the for free kind.
So Really, we American golf fans need to stop pressuring the big stars to participate in the Olympics and especially the Ryder Cup.
What we need at this point is a Miracle on Grass.
Tom Edrington
Not happening. Bring on The Masters, best course for drama on the back nine….love it , my favorite major.
Tom Edrington
I just got through with the finals— UGH, so boring, two birdies between the two players all day….this was unwatchable.
baxter cepeda
The same thing would have happened in stroke play. This was an awesome tough day to finish a grueling tournament. Nice weather for the fans but especially challenging for the finalists. I thought it was perfect.
Tom Edrington
Nope, someone would have come from behind and shot 67.
baxter cepeda
I’ll give you that. Maybe someone would have shot 67 but likely not to win in that wind.
The right man won this week. It got US Open like Sunday.
Get over the birdies brah.
Tom Edrington
Nope. lol
baxter cepeda
Probably would have been Tony or Xander or Lee shooting 67 for another clutch second. Lol.
Tom Edrington
I’m still laughing at the mention of Tony
baxter cepeda
Poor Tony. Well not poor. But you know what I mean.
Tony has ties to our area now. When my kids high school coach name drops, it’s Tony finau.
So Cmon Tony!
Please Get another win already! Pass on the wgc and return to Puelto Lico if you have to!
But get that W!
Tom Edrington
I’m hoping Tony gets that civil suit behind him; Haven’t heard anything about it lately; Do you see Tony finishing top 10 at The Masters?