After a one-week break for some of the top golfers, they are back for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play event, the third designated event in four weeks.
Last week, the Valspar Championship came down to the final hole as Taylor Moore won for the first time on the PGA Tour. Moore, who was sitting in the clubhouse and eventually getting swings in the driving in case of playoff, saw both Adam Schenk and Jordan Spieth be unable to convert their scores on the final hole to tie the rookie
Taking place at Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas, the game’s best players are preparing for the lone match play event of the PGA Tour schedule.
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play format
There are 64 players separated into 16 groups of four and the winner of each group advances to the round of 16, similar to the World Baseball Classic or the World Cup.
- Rounds 1-3 (group play): Wednesday March 22 – Friday March 24
- Round of 16: Morning of Saturday March 25
- Quarterfinals: Afternoon of Saturday, March 25
- Semifinals: Morning of Sunday, March 26
- Championship & Consolation matches: Afternoon of Sunday, March 26
The style of golf that is being played is match play, meaning that instead of players competing for strokes, they are playing against holes. For example, if Scottie Scheffler birdies the first hole and Jon Rahm pars, Scheffler is one up after one. If both players record the same score, such as a par, they halve the hole.
A winner from a match is determined until one player does not have enough holes to win. If two players are tied through 18 holes, the match ends in a draw. As a result, some matches will not go the full the 18holes.
The largest margin of victory at this event came in 2006 when Tiger Woods defeated Stephen Ames 9 & 8 in the first round. That means Woods was leading by nine holes with eight to play.
In the knockout rounds, the players will be seeded based on their group number. In the round of 16, the winning player from the first group will play the winner of the group from the 16th group and so forth.
Related: Ranking the 5 best Masters performances of all-time: Jordan Spieth to Tiger Woods
What channel is the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play on?
The World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play will be televised between NBC and the Golf Channel.
Television schedule for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play
| Round | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1 | Wednesday Mar. 22 | 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| 2 | Thursday Mar. 23 | 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| 3 | Friday Mar. 24 | 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| Rd. of 16 & Quarters | Saturday Mar. 25 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Golf Channel NBC |
| Semis & Champ/Cons. | Sunday Mar. 26 | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Golf Channel NBC |
Other coverage for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play
In addition to NBC and the Golf Channel, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play will also be broadcasted on ESPN+ and Peacock. PGA Tour Live for the marquee and featured pairings can be exclusively found on ESPN+, including the featured holes on the par-3 4th, par-3 7th, par-3 11th and the drivable par-4 13th.
The World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play will also be on the airwaves of Sirius XM.
Wednesday, March 22 (Round 1)
ESPN+: 10:15 a.m. – 8:15 p.m. ET
Peacock: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Sirius XM: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, March 23 (Round 2)
ESPN+: 10:15 a.m. – 8:15 p.m. ET
Peacock: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Sirius XM: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Friday, March 24 (Round 3)
ESPN+: 10:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Peacock: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Sirius XM: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 25 (Round of 16 & Quarterfinals)
ESPN+: 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Peacock: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Sirius XM: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 26 (Semifinals & Championship/Consolation)
Peacock: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET
Sirius XM: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET
Related: Ranking the 10 best PGA Tour golfers
How much are tickets for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play?
Tickets to walk the grounds for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play begin at $125. Tickets for the Michelob Ultra Athletic Club, which are sold out on Thursday and Friday, begin at $238 and is located along the par-5 12th hole with bar seating and a food menu only to the Michelob Ultra Club.
Up to two youth, ages 15 and under, will be admitted free with a ticketed adult all week. In addition, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play will provide complimentary tickets to active duty and Reserve military members and their families on a first come, first serve basis.
Payout for the 2023 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play
The total purse for the event is set for $20 million and the winner will receive $3.6 million.
Groups for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play?
Here are the groups for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play with the player’s overall ranking in parentheses.
Group 1: Scottie Scheffler (1), Tom Kim (32), Alex Noren (33), Davis Riley (64)
Group 2: Jon Rahm (2), Billy Horschel (31), Keith Mitchell (34), Rickie Fowler (63)
Group 3: Rory McIlroy (3), Keegan Bradley (30), Denny McCarthy (35), Scott Stallings (62)
Group 4: Patrick Cantlay (4), Brian Harman (29), K.H. Lee (36), Nick Taylor (61)
Group 5: Max Homa (5), Hideki Matsuyama (28), Kevin Kisner (37), Justin Suh (60)
Group 6: Xander Schauffele (6), Tom Hoge (27), Aaron Wise (38), Cam Davis (59)
Group 7: Will Zalatoris (7), Ryan Fox (26), Harris English (39), Andrew Putnam (58)
Group 8: Viktor Hovland (8), Chris Kirk (25), Si Woo Kim (40), Matt Kuchar (57)
Group 9: Collin Morikawa (9), Jason Day (24), Adam Svensson (41), Victor Perez (56)
Group 10: Tony Finau (10), Kurt Kitayama (23), Adrian Meronk (42), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (55)
Group 11: Matt Fitzpatrick (11), Sahith Theegala (22), Min Woo Lee (43), J.J. Spaun (54)
Group 12: Jordan Spieth (12), Shane Lowry (21), Taylor Montgomery (44), Mackenzie Hughes (53)
Group 13: Sam Burns (13), Seamus Power (20), Adam Scott (45), Adam Hadwin (52)
Group 14: Tyrell Hatton (14), Russell Henley (19), Lucas Herbert (46), Ben Griffin (51)
Group 15: Cameron Young (15), Sepp Straka (18), Corey Conners (47), Davis Thompson (50)
Group 16: Sungjae Im (16), Tommy Fleetwood (17), J.T. Poston (48), Maverick McNealy (49)
5 players who can hoist the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play trophy
Scottie Scheffler
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who won this event last year and also finished second two years, comes back to Austin Country Club looking to defend his second PGA Tour victory this season. He won the WM Phoenix Open for the second consecutive year a month ago in Arizona.
The key to Scheffler’s win last year was in four his last five matches, he was at least 2-up through six holes, which means he was able to start fast and maintain the lead. In total, the Texas Longhorn alumnus has only lost twice in 14 matches over the last two years.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm needs to get back on track and stabilize his mentality ahead of the Masters in a couple of weeks. Rahm, who withdrew at The PLAYERS Championship a couple weeks ago, has three victories already this season and has a career match play record of 12-7-3 at Austin Country Club.
Rahm is one of three players to reach the knockout stage over the last years, joining Billy Horschel and Scheffler. One of the keys to Rahm and any other player being successful this week is having the ability to execute shots around the course. Rahm leads the PGA Tour this season with 2.498 strokes gained total and a 68.03 scoring average.
Related: PGA Tour announces new changes, designated events to 2024 schedule
Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton comes into this week with a runner-up finish at The PLAYERS Championship a couple weeks ago. This also comes after another top-5 finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational a week before that, giving him the momentum heading into this week.
Hatton, who is the only player on the PGA Tour currently ranked inside the top-20 in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, Strokes Gained: Approach and Strokes Gained: Putting, is looking to gain 550 FedEx Cup points with a victory and inside the top 5 of the FedEx Cup standings.
Kevin Kisner
Kevin Kisner, who won World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play event in 2019, has been one of the best match play competitors over the last number of years. In addition to his victory, he was the runner-up last year and in 2018. Kisner, who is in the same group with another competitive player in Max Homa, has gone 21-5-1 during his matches since 2017.
With him being No. 48 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he is on the cusp of being outside the top 50 that qualify those players into the Masters, which is something Kisner will want to be apart of in a few weeks to motivate him this week.
Jordan Spieth
Another former Texas Longhorn alum cracks this top 5 in Jordan Spieth. Despite coming up just short last week at the Valspar Championship, Spieth can use that as momentum, especially down the stretch. Spieth needed birdie to tie Taylor Moore on the 18th hole, but was unable to capitalize. That experience from last week is something Spieth can take with him this week.
Spieth’s best starts at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play came in his first appearance in 2016 and 2021 with ninth place finishes. With his meticulous strategy, he has the opportunity to make a run to the championship this week.
Also read: 5 best Masters performances of all time
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play pairings (all times ET)
Round 1 tee times (Wednesday; all times ET)
10:20 a.m.
Tee #1: Matt Fitzpatrick vs. J.J. Spaun (Featured Group)
10:31 a.m.
Tee #1: Sahith Theegala vs. Min Woo Lee
10:42 a.m.
Tee #1: Xander Schauffele vs. Cam Davis (Marquee Group)
10:53 a.m.
Tee #1: Tom Hoge vs. Aaron Wise
11:04 a.m.
Tee #1: Tyrrell Hatton vs. Ben Griffin
11:15 a.m.
Tee #1: Russell Henley vs. Lucas Herbert
11:26 a.m.
Tee #1: Rory McIlroy vs. Scott Stallings (Featured Group)
11:37 a.m.
Tee #1: Keegan Bradley vs. Denny McCarthy
11:48 a.m.
Tee #1: Tony Finau vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout
11:59 a.m.
Tee #1: Kurt Kitayama vs. Adrian Meronk
12:10 p.m.
Tee #1: Will Zalatoris vs. Andrew Putnam
12:21 p.m.
Tee #1: Ryan Fox vs. Harris English
12:32 p.m.
Tee #1: Cameron Young vs. Davis Thompson
12:43 p.m.
Tee #1: Sepp Straka vs. Corey Conners
12:54 p.m.
Tee #1: John Rahm vs. Rickie Fowler (Marquee Group)
1:05 p.m.
Tee #1: Billy Horschel vs. Keith Mitchell
1:16 p.m.
Tee #1: Jordan Spieth vs. Mackenzie Hughes
1:27 p.m.
Tee #1: Shane Lowry vs. Taylor Montgomery
1:38 p.m.
Tee #1: Max Homa vs. Justin Suh
1:49 p.m.
Tee #1: Hideki Matsuyama vs. Kevin Kisner
2:00 p.m.
Tee #1: Sam Burns vs. Adam Hadwin
2:11 p.m.
Tee #1: Seamus Power vs. Adam Scott
2:22 p.m.
Tee #1: Patrick Cantlay vs. Nick Taylor
2:33 p.m.
Tee #1: Brian Harman vs. K.H.Lee
2:44 p.m.
Tee #1: Collin Morikawa vs. Victor Perez
2:55 p.m.
Tee #1: Jason Day vs. Adam Svensson
3:06 p.m.
Tee #1: Viktor Hovland vs. Matt Kuchar (Featured Group)
3:17 p.m.
Tee #1: Chris Kirk vs. Si Woo Kim
3:28 p.m.
Tee #1: Sungjae Im vs. Maverick McNealy
3:39 p.m.
Tee #1: Tommy Fleetwood vs. J.T. Poston
3:50 p.m.
Tee #1: Scottie Scheffler vs. Davis Riley (Featured Group)
4:01 p.m.
Tee #1: Tom Kim vs. Alex Noren
Round 2 tee times (Thursday; all times ET)
10:20 a.m.
Tee #1: Tony Finau vs. Adrian Meronk (Featured Group)
10:31 a.m.
Tee #1: Kurt Kitayama vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout
10:42 a.m.
Tee #1: Will Zalatoris vs. Harris English (Featured Group)
10:53 a.m.
Tee #1: Ryan Fox vs. Andrew Putnam
11:04 a.m.
Tee #1: Cameron Young vs. Corey Conners
11:15 a.m.
Tee #1: Sepp Straka vs. Davis Thompson
11:26 a.m.
Tee #1: Jon Rahm vs. Keith Mitchell
11:37 a.m.
Tee #1: Billy Horschel vs. Rickie Fowler
11:48 a.m.
Tee #1: Jordan Spieth vs. Taylor Montgomery (Marquee Group)
11:59 a.m.
Tee #1: Shane Lowry vs. Mackenzie Hughes
12:10 p.m.
Tee #1: Max Homa vs. Kevin Kisner (Featured Group)
12:21 p.m.
Tee #1: Hideki Matsuyama vs. Justin Suh
12:32 p.m.
Tee #1: Sam Burns vs. Adam Scott (Featured Group)
12:43 p.m.
Tee #1: Seamus Power vs. Adam Hadwin
12:54 p.m.
Tee #1: Patrick Cantlay vs. K.H. Lee
1:05 p.m.
Tee #1: Brian Harman vs. Nick Taylor
1:16 p.m.
Tee #1: Collin Morikawa vs. Adam Svensson
1:27 p.m.
Tee #1: Jason Day vs. Victor Perez
1:38 p.m.
Tee #1: Viktor Hovland vs. Si Woo Kim
1:49 p.m.
Tee #1: Chris Kirk vs. Matt Kuchar
2:00 p.m.
Tee #1: Sungjae Im vs. J.T. Poston
2:11 p.m.
Tee #1: Tommy Fleetwood vs. Maverick McNealy
2:22 p.m.
Tee #1: Scottie Scheffler vs. Alex Noren
2:33 p.m.
Tee #1: Tom Kim vs. Davis Riley
2:44 p.m.
Tee #1: Matt Fitzpatrick vs. Min Woo Lee (Featured Group)
2:55 p.m.
Tee #1: Sahith Theegala vs. J.J. Spaun
3:06 p.m.
Tee #1: Xander Schauffele vs. Aaron Wise
3:17 p.m.
Tee #1: Tom Hoge vs. Cam Davis
3:28 p.m.
Tee #1: Tyrrell Hatton vs. Lucas Herbert
3:39 p.m.
Tee #1: Russell Henley vs. Ben Griffin
3:50 p.m.
Tee #1: Rory McIlroy vs. Denny McCarthy (Featured Group)
4:01 p.m.
Tee #1: Keegan Bradley vs. Scott Stallings
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