The opening day of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play event sees the group stage get underway and it does so with 32 matches on the golf course with each of them significant to the overall tournament.
Those who win their first match get the pressure off their shoulders immediately while those who lose on Wednesday will be under plenty of pressure to win their final two games to have a chance of qualifying.
While it is fair to say that the first day of action isn’t what it once was when the tournament was knockout throughout we will still be treated to some wonderful matches with Tommy Fleetwood vs Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar vs Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth vs Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace vs Bubba Watson among the pick of them.
Each of the 32 matches have been priced up and there are four that I like the look of to get us cracking in the tournament.
Ross Fisher vs Yuta Ikeda
Match tees off at 17.37 GMT
English golfer Ross Fisher and Japanese star Yuta Ikeda meet over 18 holes for the second time in 2018 having previously faced off in the EurAsia Cup singles matches where it was the Asian man who prevailed.
Fisher was a losing quarter finalist in this last season when it was a Japanese player who got the better of him in Hideto Tanihara and I fancy another Japanese player can see him off here. Fisher’s form has noticeably dipped since the Abu Dhabi Championship and he could be vulnerable. You have to go a long way to find a Japanese golfer who putts badly and if Ikeda can keep the putter warm he can win this at a huge price.
Kevin Kisner vs Adam Hadwin
Match tees off at 17.59 GMT
One of the more even matches on the opening day of the tournament is the one between Kevin Kisner and Adam Hadwin in Group 1 of the event. With Dustin Johnson still to come for both it is imperative that they avoid defeat here.
Over the past couple of years you would probably make Kisner a warm favourite for this match but I’m not so sure we can for this match. Hadwin arrives in here in much the better form with top 12 finishes in his last three outings and he has hit the ball well in each of those tournaments. Kisner hasn’t broken the top 25 since the Sony Open with his putting being a big issue. I’ll go with Hadwin in this one.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat vs Chez Reavie
Match tees off at 19.27 GMT
One of the later matches out on the golf course is the one between Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Chez Reavie in Group 3. Jon Rahm awaits both men later in the week so there is pressure on the pair of them to win this one.
I’ve taken the Thai to win the tournament as a value pick and I think he is good value to win this match too. As I explained in my outright preview he has an excellent record in match play formats whereas Reavie is pretty inexperienced in them. Worse still for the American, he isn’t the longest off the tee and around here that could be a real issue for him. Aphibarnrat should suit this course perfectly and that should translate into an opening win for him.
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Matthew Fitzpatrick vs Kyle Stanley
Match tees off at 19.49 GMT
The third last match out on the opening day of action could be a Ryder Cup battle later in the year when Matthew Fitzpatrick takes on Kyle Stanley over 18 holes to get Group 10 underway.
Fitzpatrick has played in this tournament a few times with differing success but he has missed three of his last four cuts coming into the match play and that is a big concern. Even in Mexico he blew hot and cold. Stanley has put together a couple of solid events in his last two outings and his ball striking could be a real weapon with the way Fitzpatrick is playing. Stanley is a sleeper this week and he can highlight that by seeing off the Englishman first up.
Tips
WON – Back Y.Ikeda to beat R.Fisher for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with LeoVegas
Back him here:
Back A.Hadwin to beat K.Kisner for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with 888sport
Back him here:
WON – Back K.Aphibarnrat to beat C.Reavie for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with Betfred
Back him here:
WON – Back K.Stanley to beat M.Fitzpatrick for a 4/10 stake at 2.30 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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