Winners and Losers from the 2016 WGC-Dell Match Play Championship
The PGA Tour’s only match-play competition is in the books. And with No. 2 seed Jason Day and No. 3 seed Rory McIlroy making it to the semifinals, the group-stage format (unveiled last year) continues to allow the best players to advance.
The format also allowed the hottest golfer in the game currently (and arguably over the past year) to capture his second Match Play Championship in three years. Day, who looked as though a back injury might force a withdrawal in his opening match, is this week’s big winner.
Who joins him on among the WGC event’s winners? Who doesn’t?
Read on to find out.
Winner: Rory McIlroy
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While his impressive unbeaten streak came to an end in his semifinal showdown with Day, McIlroy is still a winner this week. McIlroy had tallied 11 wins and one halve in his 12 matches prior to losing to Day.
Looking at McIlroy’s week, the Ulsterman beat a gritty Zach Johnson in the round of 16, one up, before handling No. 54 seed, Chris Kirk, four and three in the quarterfinals. McIlroy fought hard against Day but ultimately was toppled one up.
Ultimately, while he wasn’t firing on all cylinders, the week of good work and head-to-head thumpery is a positive for the Ulsterman, coming off a ho-hum tie-for-27th finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. And there’s no reason to read anything into McIlroy’s three-and-two loss to Rafael Cabrera-Bello in the meaningless consolation match.
McIlroy’s last event before the Masters was a net positive, which was the real focal point for him and his potential Augusta punters this week.
Loser: Everyone Who Said Jason Day Would WD Wednesday
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Three up with four holes to play in his opening match, following a tee shot, a shooting pain in Day's back nearly drove him to his knees. Day persevered, but he skipped post-round chats with reporters in favor of immediate medical attention.
Wednesday, without any real understanding of the magnitude of the Australian’s ailment, golf fans were left to wonder about the severity of the injury. And of course, it was impossible not to speculate about the golfer’s fitness ahead of the Masters in two weeks.
Fortunately, Day was able to take care of business in his following matches, toppling Thongchai Jaidee, Paul Casey, Brandt Snedeker, Brooks Koepka, McIlroy and ultimately, Louis Oosthuizen.
In a post-round press conference, Day said, “It's been quite amazing to be able to start the week, not really thinking I'm going to be able to play with what happened Wednesday, and then turn around and I'm No. 1 in the world. It's a strange feeling. I'm glad I stuck it out."
Indeed he must be. In “sticking it out,” Day handled Oosthuizen, five and four, in the final to claim his second consecutive victory. Also impressively, the Australian has now captured two of the last three WGC-Dell Match Play competitions: an impressive feat in golf’s most volatile format.
Winner: Rafael Cabrera-Bello
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Spaniard Cabrera-Bello lost to Oosthuizen, four and three, in the semifinals. However, the No. 52 seed was a huge winner this week. (And he even knocked off McIlroy in the “let’s just get this over with” consolation match.)
As the No. 52 seed and in a group featuring Kevin Kisner and Hideki Matsuyama, few would have expected Cabrera-Bello to advance beyond the group stage. Not only did he do so, but Cabrera-Bello then advanced past Byeong-hun An and Ryan Moore.
More importantly, however, Cabrera-Bello moved inside the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking thanks to his performance, which means he’s earned a spot in the Masters field.
Well done, Rafa. See you at Augusta.
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Loser: Jordan Spieth
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Jordan Spieth lost his No. 1 ranking this week. And to make matters worse, The 22-year-old Texan, playing what was effectively a home game, was uncharacteristically sloppy in Austin, losing, four and two, to Oosthuizen in the round of 16.
He hasn’t recorded a top-10 finish since winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in early January.
Certainly, he would like to be a little sharper from tee to green this week. However, Spieth will be happy to have another opportunity to fine-tune things before his Masters title defense at the Shell Houston Open, where he finished second last year.
Winner: Patrick Reed
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While he lost to Dustin Johnson, three and two, in the round of 16, we’re pegging Patrick Reed as a winner this week. Here’s why: Reed thumped Phil Mickelson, five and four.
And when you beat one of the legends of the game that badly, you’re a winner in this ranking. And really, anytime there is a match-play competition, be it this event or the Ryder or Presidents Cup, Reed is a winner. The brash Texan simply loves (and excels in) the format.
"It's just one of those things that every time I play in these kind of matches, I just relish and love it," Reed said after a round. “It just brings out the best in me. I love it. I love match play every time I get to go in this format and go up against one guy. It's something I love and something I'm pretty good at. Just going out and getting in a dog fight."
And of course, Reed donned this belt buckle, referencing his celebrated/reviled gesture at last year’s Ryder Cup, where he went 3-0-1.
Loser: Justin Thomas
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Twenty-two-year-old Justin Thomas will be making his Masters debut in two weeks. Thomas hasn’t been overwhelmingly impressive in his two most recent starts after finishing tied for third at the Honda Classic thanks to three sub-70 rounds.
Arriving in Austin, Texas, and summarily losing to Spieth, Jamie Donaldson and Victor Dubuisson won’t give him a great feeling as he heads to Georgia. On the short list of emerging American talent, Thomas is a player to watch in his inaugural Masters. However, it looks like he left Texas with little to build on.
Winner: Louis Oosthuizen
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No. 16 seed, Oosthuizen was the only golfer not named Day to win every match on the way to the finals. After advancing from the group stage, Oosthuizen took care of Johnson and handled Cabrera-Bello in the semifinals, four and three.
While Oosthuizen didn’t end up getting the job done against Day, making it to the finals are a solid week of pummeling the best golfers in the world (including Spieth) makes you a winner in this rundown.
With impressive form this week coming on the heels of a tie-for-seventh finish at the Valspar Championship, Oosthuizen could find himself among the favorites heading to Augusta National (where he’s played well) with a strong performance at the Shell Houston Open.
Loser: Daniel Berger
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With his first Masters bid locked up thanks to making last year’s Tour Championship, Daniel Berger arrived at Austin Country Club looking to build on the positive momentum he established with the tied-for-11th finish at the Valspar Championship.
He didn’t stay long in Austin. Berger failed to capture a point in Group 9, losing to Reed, Mickelson and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Berger, the No. 55 golfer in the world, is in the field for the Shell Houston Open, where he’ll look to rebound ahead of his maiden voyage to Augusta National.
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