We’ve all heard the adage that “anything can happen in match play,” especially at a course designed by Pete Dye.
The world’s best players are in Texas as Austin Country Club plays host to the 2023 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play for the final time this week, where 64 of the world’s top 77 players are on hand to play the Tour’s last match-play event for the foreseeable future.
Friday’s slate of matches features some head-scratching scenarios, a clash between a pair of unbeaten players and a handful of top seeds fighting for their place in the knockout stage.
Check out the top five matches to watch from the third and final round of pool play in Austin.
Group 2: Jon Rahm vs. Billy Horschel; Keith Mitchell vs. Rickie Fowler
It’s a two-for-one must-watch special here, because outside of the already eliminated Mitchell, this loaded group is up for grabs and a few big names will be heading home early.
If Horschel wins, he advances to the knockout stage. Simple as that. Same if he ties and Mitchell wins or ties.
But if Horschel ties and Fowler wins, it will force a playoff between the two.
Now let’s say Rahm keeps rolling and both he and Fowler win, then the two will go to a playoff and Horschel is out. If Rahm wins and Fowler ties or loses, Rahm advances.
Game on.
Tony Finau vs. Kurt Kitayama
Keep a few eyes on this one, where Finau is in control of his own destiny: if he wins or ties, he advances.
That said, Kitayama can play spoiler. If he wins, and so does Adrian Meronk over Chrisitaan Bezuidenhout, then it will force a three-way playoff between Finau, Kitayama and Meronk. Sign us up for that.
But if Kitayama wins and Meronk ties or loses, it will force a playoff between Finau and Kitayama.
Another win for team Finau 🤙 pic.twitter.com/wXtlDqkH6H
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2023
Patrick Cantlay vs. Brian Harman
Are these the most exciting players on Tour? Nope. But the stakes are high in this old school saloon shootout. It’s win or go home (or tie and play sudden death) to decide Group 4 as both Cantlay and Harman enter the final match of pool play an unblemished 2-0.
A chip-in eagle for the win 💪@HarmanBrian holes it and earns a 3-and-2 victory over Nick Taylor. pic.twitter.com/KZLNDoutNx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2023
Max Homa vs. Hideki Matsuyama
Homa is in prime position to advance to the knockout stage, all he needs is a win or tie against Matsuyama.
But what if things get crazy in Group 5. Let’s say Matsuyama wins and Justin Suh beats Kevin Kisner, it would force a three-way playoff between Homa, Matsuyama and Suh. If Matsuyama wins and Suh ties or loses, it will force a playoff between Matsuyama and Homa.
And speaking of Kisner, it’s shocking to see the past champion and two-time runner-up at the Match Play already eliminated entering the final round of pool play.
Collin Morikawa vs. Jason Day
We marked this as a match to watch earlier this week and are doubling-down once again.
Adam Svensson and Victor Perez are eliminated, meaning it all comes down to Morikawa vs. Day.
If Day wins or ties, he advances. If Morikawa wins, he advances.
The Aussie has been back on his grind recently on the PGA Tour with five top-10 finishes in 12 starts this season and will be a solid challenge for the top seed in Group 9. Not only that, Day has a history of success at the Match Play, where he won in 2014 and 2016, the first year at Austin Country Club.
