The past couple of days of NCAA March Madness have wetted our appetite for golf’s version.
The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play commences on Wednesday (fill out your brackets or get your bets in accordingly!), and the field is star-studded, as you’d expect for a WGC. All 10 of the top-10 ranked players in the world will tee it up at Austin Country Club, which hosts the match-play event for a fifth time. Your previous winners: Kevin Kisner (2019); Bubba Watson (2018); Dustin Johnson (2017) and Jason Day (2016). Absent are Brooks Koepka, who confirmed his knee surgery Sunday; Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Gary Woodland and Tiger Woods.
Following a weaker field at the Honda Classic last week, we’re ready to watch the world’s best compete, particularly in the rare instance of match-play competition on the PGA Tour. Justin Thomas, following his electrifying win at The Players two weeks ago, is the slight favorite over Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson. This marks the first week since the 2020 Northern Trust someone not named Dustin Johnson has been the favorite in events DJ has teed it up in.
Of course, this week’s unique format—which starts with groups of four until the winner advances to the bracket-style finale—provides some different betting opportunities. Check out our Joel Beall’s group breakdowns here, and see the odds below and the group winners below that.
WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play 2021 odds (Courtesy of William Hill)
Matthew Fitzpatrick: 40-1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout: 50-1
Odds by group (courtesy of William Hill):
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+350)
Patrick Cantlay (+125)
Hideki Matsuyama (+225)
Matthew Fitzpatrick (+225)