AUSTIN - The World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play preliminary rounds began Wednesday and conclude today. After today’s rounds at the Austin Country Club, 16 players will move on to compete in the “Round of 16” starting Saturday morning.
Paul Casey (back spasms) played two holes Wednesday and conceded his match to Corey Conners. Casey warmed-up for Thursday's match and the back issues continued, so he forfeited to Alex Noren. Casey has withdrawn from the tournament.
After today’s final preliminary round, play will continue Saturday morning with the “Round of 16” and then the Quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning is the Semifinals and Sunday afternoon is the Championship and Consolation (3rd Place) Match.
Main Event: WGC Dell Technologies Match Play
COURSE: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas
ARCHITECT: Pete Dye
YARDS/PAR: 7,108 yards/Par 71
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $12,000,000/$2,100,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Billy Horschel
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 550
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @DellMatchPlay
WGC MATCH PLAY TV COVERAGE: Today, preliminary round play concludes and coverage runs from 2:00pm to 8:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. On Saturday Sweet 16 coverage is set for 10:00am to 2:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC. Sunday, coverage is set for 10:30am to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) on NBC.
WGC PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Today, streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 10:15am to 8:00pm (ET). Saturday streaming on ESPN+ from 8:30am to 2:00pm (ET). Sunday, March 27, has no online streaming of Match Play.
WGC PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of the preliminary rounds today with broadcasts originating from Austin from 2:00pm to 8:00pm (ET). Saturday will have coverage from 10:00am to 6:00pm (ET) and Sunday coverage runs from 11:00am to 7:00pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.
How to Watch/Stream the PGA Tour Live: (ESPNCom)
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
How to Watch Corales Puntacana: (PGATourCom)
The Basics:
Tournament website: Dell Technologies Match Play Championships
WGC Match Play Tee Times - Dell Tech Match Play Tee Times start today with matches beginning at 10:10am (ET) and go to 2:15pm (ET).
Weather: Today’s forecast in Austin, Texas is for sunny skies and 59-84 degree temperatures as day progresses. There’s a 0% chance of rain. Winds only 4-5 mph. Sunny skies for all weekend.
PGA Tour Brunch will post by 9:00am (ET) Saturday.
Note: The majority of coverage will be dedicated to the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play tournament this week. For up-to-the-minute news on the Corales Puntacana Championship from the DR, click HERE.
WGC Dell Technologies Match Play:
THE FORMAT: 64 players, grouped into 16 groups of four players each for rounds 1, 2 and 3, held Wednesday to Friday. Groups were determined Monday morning by the Advance Rules Official.
During group play, players play 18-hole matches against each of the other players in their group. Matches are played to either a conclusion or a tie. Matches tied after 18 holes are not extended. Points awarded to players based on results of each match as follows:
Winner - 1 point
Loser - 0 points
Tied - 1/2 point per player
• In the event two or more players in a group are equal with the highest point totals, a stroke-play hole-by-hole playoff will determine the player that advances to the 16-player, single elimination matches.
• The purse distribution for the event will be similar to past years, but payments for the players who do not advance beyond group play will be based on the player’s record within the pool play round.
Bracket:
WGC - The Field: (link)
Update: Paul Casey WD
WGC Leaderboard: (link)
WGC Bracket: (link)
Corales Puntacana Champ Tee Times: (link)
Corales Puntacana Champ Leaderboard: (link)
What They’re Saying:
Big Comebacks, Early Eliminations (ESPN/Associated Press)
Recap from WGC Match Play (PGATourCom)
Who Will Advance? (PGATourCom)
Ben Martin Shot (66) at Corales Puntacana (ESPN/Associated Press)
On This Day in Golf History:
March 25, 2012 - Tiger Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando, Florida for the seventh time, beating runner-up Graeme McDowell by five strokes. The win was the 72nd PGA Tour win for woods and the first since he returned from being rocked by a personal life scandal that unraveled in late November 2009. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt:
PGA TOUR Brunch is brought to you by Digital Sports Desk. Subscriptions to PGA Tour Brunch are the perfect gift for your friends and/or family members who love pro golf. Click here for MARCH MADNESS Discount.