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PGA Tour: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Preview

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AUSTIN – The World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, the only official head-to-head match play event on the PGA Tour schedule, returns to the PGA TOUR schedule after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This week, 64 of the top 69 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (as of March 15) are in the field, including every player in the Top 10.

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Reigning FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is seeking his seventh WGC victory. Johnson’s six WGC titles are second only to Tiger Woods (18). The 2018 WGC semifinalist Justin Thomas is making his first start on Tour since winning THE PLAYERS Championship.

There are five players who qualified but will not compete: Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods, Gary Woodland.

Is Match Play a different game? Maybe so as no player has won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and gone on to win the FedExCup in the same season (best result: Luke Donald, (No. 3) in 2011.

Back in 2019: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play champion Kevin Kisner holed a 20-foot birdie putt to close out Matt Kuchar, 3 and 2, to capture his third PGA Tour title and first World Golf Championships victory. In the 2019-20 season, the South Carolina native made 21 starts, qualified for each of the three FedExCup Playoffs events and finished No. 23 in the FedExCup standings.

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: World Golf Championship

COURSE: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas

ARCHITECTS: Pete Dye

YARDS/PAR: 7,108 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $10,500,000/$1,800,000

DEFENDING Champion (2019) Kevin Kisner – (Leaderboard link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS of Event: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner Share: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup @DellMatchPlay

TV COVERAGE: Wednesday, March 24 – Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26: 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 – Early coverage on Golf Channel from 10:00am to 2:00pm and the switch to NBC for 2:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Saturday and 3:00pm to 7:00pm EDT on Sunday.

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups on Wednesday-Thursday and Friday from 10:15am to 8:00pm (EDT); Saturday from (8:30am-2:00pm (EDT) only.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Wednesday –Thursday – Friday – 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT); then Saturday, March 27 from 10:00am to 6:00pm EDT and Sunday, March 28: (11:00am to 7:00pm (EDT)) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

World Golf Championship-Dell Tech Match Play Odds

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AUSTIN – Published odds for this week’s World Golf Championship Match Play

Bryson DeChambeau 12-1
Justin Thomas 12-1
Dustin Johnson 14-1
Jon Rahm 14-1
Rory McIlroy 20-1
Collin Morikawa 22-1
Sungjae Im 25-1
Jordan Spieth 25-1
Paul Casey 25-1
Patrick Reed 25-1
Viktor Hovland 28-1
Patrick Cantlay 28-1
Tony Finau 28-1
Xander Schauffele 28-1
Webb Simpson 28-1
Daniel Berger 28-1
Tyrrell Hatton 33-1
Jason Day 35-1
Cameron Smith 35-1
Louis Oosthuizen 40-1
Sergio Garcia 40-1
Hideki Matsuyama 40-1
Joaquin Niemann 40-1
Scottie Scheffler 40-1
Will Zalatoris 40-1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 40-1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 50-1
Jason Kokrak 50-1
Lee Westwood 50-1
Corey Conners 50-1
Kevin Kisner 50-1
Abraham Ancer 50-1
Tommy Fleetwood 50-1
Si-Woo Kim 66-1
Russell Henley 70-1
Max Homa 70-1
Billy Horschel 80-1
Matt Wallace 80-1
Shane Lowry 80-1
Ryan Palmer 80-1
Harris English 80-1
Bubba Watson 80-1
Lanto Griffin 80-1
Brian Harman 80-1
Brendon Todd 100-1
Marc Leishman 100-1
Carlos Ortiz 100-1
Matthew Wolff 100-1
Kevin Na 100-1
Ian Poulter 100-1
Victor Perez 100-1
Talor Gooch 125-1
Matt Kuchar 125-1
Kevin Streelman 150-1
Sebastian Munoz 150-1
Robert MacIntyre 150-1
J.T. Poston 150-1
Antoine Rozner 150-1
Dylan Frittelli 150-1
Erik Van Rooyen 150-1
Bernd Wiesberger 150-1
Mackenzie Hughes 200-1
Andy Sullivan 200-1
Adam Long 250-1

PGA Tour: The Honda Classic Review

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The Honda Classic: Review and Notes

THE YEAR of the 40s: Matt Jones won his second PGA Tour title in his 330th start and became the fourth winner in his 40s this season. He also became the sixth player this season to win more than six years after his previous victory.

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Jones converted his 54-hole lead/co-lead for first time on Tour, and finished with a five-stroke win which ties the largest margin of victory in tournament history.

Brandon Hagy earned his best career PGA Tour result on his 30th birthday, and in doing so, he moved up 101 spots in the FedExCup standings.

Sam Ryder played the famed “Bear Trap” in 3-under for the week, the best of any player who made the cut.

Chase Seiffert (T-3) at (-6) closed with 6-under (64), matching his career low (64/R4) at the 2018 Travelers Championship). He moved from T-41 to T-3 and carded his fourth score of 65 or better this season.

Brendan Steele (T-3) at (-6) recorded his second consecutive top-10 result at The Honda Classic (T-4) in 2020 and has five Top 15 finishes in last six starts at The Honda Classic.

The Honda Classic – Final Leaderboard

Matt Jones 61-70-69-68—268 (-12)

Brandon Hagy 69-62-76-66—273 (-7)

Five players at (-6)

Full Leaderboard (link)

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Final Round Coverage of Honda Classic

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – For the second time this week, Matt Jones holds an overnight lead of three strokes as 36-hole leader Aaron Wise fell three shots behind in a bid for second PGA Tour win. Jones ranks No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (12.289) and second in the field in Strokes Gained Around the Green (5.716).

J.B. Holmes is making his seventh appearance at The Honda Classic and he started the third round eight-shots off the lead but posted a 3-under (67) on “Moving Day” and is now T-2 with Wise. Holmes is paired with Matt Jones in the final twosome.

Making his second start at The Honda Classic (T-53 in 2020), Winter Park, Florida, native Sam Ryder (T-4) at (-6) is in contention to claim his first career PGA Tour victory in his 90th start.

Following his shoulder injury, The Honda Classic marks the final event remaining for Camilo Villegas (T-13) at (-4) to earn 136 FedExCup points (3-way T-3 or better) and remain in the Major Medical category or 24 FedExCup points (2-way T-32 or better) to play the remainder of the season out of the 126-150 category.

PGA Tour: R-3 Preview of Honda Classic

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Aaron Wise holds a 36-hole lead/co-lead for first time in his 88th TOUR start. Wise’ 12-under 128 marks low 36-hole tournament score since the event moved to PGA National in 2007 (129/Rory McIlroy/2014) and ties tournament record (Dan Pohl/1989). The (-12)-(128) also matches Wise’s career low 36-hole score.

Wise became the first player with multiple (64s) or better in the same week at The Honda Classic since the event moved to PGA National (Champion) in 2007.

First round leader Matt Jones (T2) at (-9) ranked 133rd in proximity to the hole (44 feet, 2 inches) in the second round after ranking No. 2 (25 feet, 6 inches) in R-1.

Brandon Hagy entered the field as second-to-last alternate on Wednesday when Kramer Hickok withdrew from the tournament. Hagy sits (T-2) (69-62) – (131) with Jones (61-70) – (131).

In 90th start on Tour, Sam Ryder (4th/-8) seeks his first pro victory. His (63) marked his lowest score on Tour since 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (62)-(R4). He shot four rounds in the 70s to finish T-53 in this event last year, his only prior appearance. Ryder’s best finish among eight career top-10s is T-2/2018 John Deere Classic; T-10/Farmers Insurance Open.

With a pair of (68s), defending The Honda Classic champion Sungjae Im sits T16 in his bid to join Jack Nicklaus (1977-78) as players to successfully defend their title in the event.

The 36-Hole Cut allowed for 68 players at (1-over)-(141) from a field of 144 professionals.

PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of The Honda Classic

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – Matt Jones took advantage of his 7:36am EDT tee-time and proceeded to tie a PGA National (Champion Course) record, shooting a career-low (61). He leads Aaron Wise and Honda Classic champion Russell Henley by three stokes after the opening round. Jones matched the record (61) by Brian Harman in at PGA National in 2012. The three-stroke opening round lead is the biggest first round lead since 1967.

Windy conditions challenged the field most of the morning and afternoon.

This is the 15th time The Honda Classic is being played at PGA National. In that time period, no first-round leader on this course has won the tournament. Across all courses for the Honda, the last first-round leader to win the Classic was Justin Leonard in 2003 at Mirasol.

Russell Henley opened with (64) to match his lowest 18-hole score in the event. He opened with (64) en route to winning The Honda Classic in 2014.

In bid to join Jack Nicklaus as players to successfully defend a Honda Classic title, Sungjae Im opened with (70).

PGA National features “The Bear Trap” at (Nos. 15-17) a stretch of land that ranks as the fourth-toughest three-hole stretch on Tour since 2007 (among courses played in at least 10 seasons, non-majors).

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Honda Classic Tee Times today at 7:25am (EDT/local) through 2:21pm (EDT/local). (link)

Weather for Today: Friday weather calls for a chance of Showers and T-Storms, 50% chance of rain but windy again (15-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph). Similar forecast for the weekend, with showers and windy conditions.

PGATourBrunch will be serving an early “BRUNCH” and posting at 8:00am EDT Saturday-Sunday.

Next Week: World Golf Championship – Dell Technologies Match Playand the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club in Dominican Republic.

Leaderboard After Round One at The Honda

Matt Jones 61 (-9)

Aaron Wise 64 (-6)

Russell Henley 64 (-6)

Five players 66 (-4)

PGA Tour: Preview for Round-1 at Honda

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – After missing The Honda Classic Pro-Am on Wednesday, March 17, but indicating he would play in the tournament, Daniel Berger, the favorite and second-highest ranked player scheduled to compete, WD from The Honda Classic yesterday.

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Only six of the top 30 Tour players in the FedExCup standings are in the field this week, led by Joaquin Niemann (No. 12).

The field does include 11 past champions: Vijay Singh (1999), Padraig Harrington (2005, 2015), Luke Donald (2006), Camilo Villegas (2010), Rory Sabbatini (2011), Michael Thompson (2013), Russell Henley (2014), Adam Scott (2016), Rickie Fowler (2017), Keith Mitchell (2019) and Sungjae Im (2020).

Lee Westwood, runner-up the last two weeks, made the biggest jump in the FedExCup during the tour’s “Florida Swing,” beginning at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession (131 spots) to tee-off at The Honda.

Honda Classic defending champion Sungjae Im enters his title defense in the tournament in the top 20 in both the FedExCup and Official World Golf Ranking.

PGA National features “The Bear Trap” at (Nos. 15-17) a stretch of land that ranks as the fourth-toughest three-hole stretch on Tour since 2007 (among courses played in at least 10 seasons, non-majors).

For additional information on PGA Tour Brunch, CLICK HERE

First Look at Honda Classic

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First Look at The Honda Classic – ☘️

The Honda Classic was once one of the biggest draws for top players readying for The Masters. In the current schedule, it falls between The PLAYERS and the World Golf Championship – Dell Technology Match Play tournaments.

Daniel Berger is the highest-ranked player at No. 15. … Berger skipped the Pro-Am but plans to compete Thursday, according to the Palm Beach Post. Brooks Koepka was scheduled to play until injuring his right knee. The only Koepka in the field is his younger brother, Chase, who received a sponsor exemption.

Five former No. 1 players in the world are competing at the Honda Classic, including: Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Vijay Singh. … Both Ryder Cup captains, Steve Stricker (USA) and Padraig Harrington (Europe), are playing this event on the PGA Tour’s “Florida Swing.”

Westwood – a disappointing second place finisher at The PLAYERS last weekend, following his efforts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, is the first player to be the runner-up in consecutive weeks since Webb Simpson at the Wyndham Championship and The Northern Trust in August 2019.

For more information on PGA Tour Brunch, CLICK HERE

The PLAYERS Championship: Review and Notes

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – With scores of 64-68 in the final two rounds, Justin Thomas tied the tournament record for closing 36-hole score (132) to win the 2021 PLAYERS Championship by one stroke over Lee Westwood.

Westwood became the first player to finish solo-second in consecutive PGA Tour events since Webb Simpson in 2019. (2019 World Golf Championships/FedEx St. Jude Invitational and Wyndham Championship). Westwood entered the Florida Swing (beginning at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession) at No. 153 in the FedExCup standings and now ranks 22nd after The PLAYERS.

Thomas tied The PLAYERS Championship record for lowest closing 36-hole score (132), joining Fred Couples and Rocco Mediate, 1996).

Thomas became the fourth player since 1960 to win 14 times on the PGA Tour before turning 28, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller.

The low final-round score was 6-under (66), shot by four players: Corey Conners (7th), Charles Howell III (T-9), Sungjae Im (T-17) and Collin Morikawa (T-41)

We’ll Be Back! – The next issue of PGA Tour Brunch will be sent to your inbox at Noon on St. Patrick’s Day ☘️ Wednesday, March 17th.

PLAYERS Final Leaderboard

Justin Thomas 71-71-64-68—274 (-14)

Lee Westwood 69-66-68-72—275 (-13)

Brian Harman 67-71-69-69—276 (-12)

Bryson DeChambeau 69-69-67-71—276 (-12)

Talor Gooch 71-68-71-67—277 (-11)

Paul Casey 73-67-67-70—277 (-11)

The Players Championship – Third Round Preview

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By TERRY LYONS

Note: The second round was suspended due to darkness at 6:36pm ET with only eight players left on the course. Those eight will resume at 7am ET Saturday.

Third-round tee times will go off the No. 1 tee in twosomes, approximately 7:55am ET to 2pm ET.

Tournament Notes

Lee Westwood leads for the second time in the last four rounds on Tour following his 54 hole performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. England’s Westwood (1st) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2nd) top the leaderboard after the second round; with 15 different international winners of The Players Championship, noting no player from England has ever won the event.

Chris Kirk (T-3) shot his career-low round at The Players with a 7-under (65), his seventh round in the 60s in his 33rd tournament round here.

Bryson DeChambeau (T-5) seeks to become the fourth player to win The Players after winning the week prior (most recent: Tiger Woods/2001 Arnold Palmer Invitational).

Five players who finished in the top 10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational are in the top 10 after round two: Lee Westwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Chris Kirk, Bryson DeChambeau, Charley Hoffman.

Rory McIlroy becomes the first defending champion to miss the cut the following year since Rickie Fowler in 2016. Other notables to mTC included: Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Webb Simpson, Max Homa, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, and Ricky Fowler.