We’ve previewed the outright market in the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play already but as ever in this tournament each of the 16 groups have been priced up too and it would be rude of us not to take a look and get involved in some of them.
We have a mixture of groups this week. We have groups such as Group 1 where it is hard to see the favourite being beaten, then there are groups such as 13 in which a case can be made for all four players and then we have sections where the favourite or seeded player looks vulnerable. Those are the ones we are concentrating on.
Group 2
Justin Thomas headlines the second group in the tournament but as I eluded to in the outright preview his record in singles play, particularly in this tournament, is little better than shocking so although he is a lofty presence in the game right now he just has to be taken on. The other three men in the group are Francesco Molinari, Patton Kizzire and Luke List.
Molinari doesn’t have the length of the other three and I believe that is a disadvantage around here. List is in good form and does have the length but lacks match play experience which leaves Kizzire. The American won his group in his only previous outing here two years ago and saw off the likes of Bubba Watson in the process. He is one of the best putters in the field and his iron play is sufficient enough that he could usurp the other three at 9/2.
Group 7
The seeded player in Group 7 of the competition is Sergio Garcia and while he is a good match play golfer there are obvious reasons to take him on this week. He has just had a child which is a huge thing in the life of anyone and he is a little over two weeks away from defending his only major title to date. He is up against Xander Schauffele, Dylan Frittelli and Shubhankar Sharma.
Schauffele would be a big runner were it not for the fact he is getting used to new equipment. Sharma has had an excellent 2018 but I’m not convinced he has the length to go well on this course which brings me to Frittelli, who as luck would have it went to college not far from here and who has the credentials to tame this course. His length will keep him in the majority of holes and his short game can get him over the line. He is without doubt the value alternative to Garcia in this group.
Group 14
All eyes will be on Phil Mickelson in Group 14 to see if he can follow up his win in the first WGC event this year in Mexico recently by winning the second WGC event. Mickelson missed this tournament last year and failed to come out of his group two years ago and I fancy the same fate could come his way again here.
Although Satoshi Kodaira and Charles Howell III will have something to say about it I have this group between Mickelson and Rafa Cabrera Bello with the Spaniard the pick. RCB was third here two years ago and only missed out on going through in a three way group play-off last year. The Spaniard is hitting the ball well at the minute and he has a solid match play record. At 2/1 he’s the value to see off Mickelson.
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Group 16
When the seedings for the tournament were announced Matt Kuchar always looked to be the most vulnerable of them. His form has been patchy this year and I believe he is one to be taken on over in Group 16, especially given the potentially competitive nature of the group with Ross Fisher, Yuta Ikeda and Zach Johnson the other three men in it.
Johnson was in the same group as Kuchar last year and he came out of it and I fancy he might well do the same again. Fisher went well here last year but he looks to have come off the top of his form since failing to convert in Abu Dhabi earlier in the year. Ikeda could be a right spoiler but I like Johnson. He has come out of the group on both stagings in Austin which included an 8&6 win over Martin Kaymer in 2016. He’s lost the first knockout match both times but it has taken Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson to beat him. There’s nothing of that quality or power in this group so I expect Zach to come through.
Tips
Back P.Kizzire to win Group 2 for a 2/10 stake at 5.50 with William Hill
Back him here:
Back D.Frittelli to win Group 7 for a 2/10 stake at 4.00 with 888sport
Back him here:
Back R.Cabrera Bello to win Group 14 for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Unibet
Back him here:
Back Z.Johnson to win Group 16 for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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