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WGC-Dell Match Play: Who will survive and advance in Austin?

By Mike Randleman

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 27: Jason Day of Australia putts on the 11th green during his match against Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa in the championship match of the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play at the Austin Country Club on March 27, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 27: Jason Day of Australia putts on the 11th green during his match against Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa in the championship match of the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play at the Austin Country Club on March 27, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Dustin Johnson WGC-Dell Match Play
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MARCH 03: Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the 18th green during the third round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec on March 3, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Dustin Johnson (1) vs. Jason Day (8)

The last two WGC-Dell Match Play champions project to meet in the quarterfinals. Day’s peak ability is right there with Johnson’s. The two bombers will put on a driving contest at ACC, but I like Johnson to keep the train rolling here.

Prediction: Johnson

Justin Thomas WGC-Dell Match Play
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MARCH 03: Justin Thomas putts on the ninth green during the third round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec on March 3, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Justin Thomas (2) vs. Xander Schauffele (20)

After he makes it out of the group stage for the first time this year, Thomas will be hungry for more. He could be teammates with Schauffele come this fall for the Ryder Cup, but he won’t show any mercy here.

Schauffele’s short game has been a bit off lately, which could magnify under the spotlight. Thomas should breeze to the semifinals.

Prediction: Thomas

Rory McIlroy WGC-Dell Match Play
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 20: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in action during a practise round for the WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay at Austin Country Club on March 20, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Jon Rahm (3) vs. Rory McIlroy (6)

Two locks for the European Ryder cup team will lock horns in perhaps the most even quarterfinals matchup. Rahm will be rested after a few weeks off in search of besting his runner-up finish last year.

To do so means getting by a recharged McIlroy. Rory will want to stay sharp as he goes for the career Grand Slam at Augusta. I see his experience and recently hot putter winning out as Rahm fails to earn a rematch of last year’s finals with Johnson.

Prediction: McIlroy

Patrick Reed WGC-Dell Match Play
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 17: Patrick Reed plays his shot from the third tee during the third round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 17, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Patrick Reed (19) vs. Patrick Cantlay (30)

The all-Patrick matchup should be a fun one. Even with Reed’s match play guile, I would have picked Cantlay a few weeks ago. He’s been so steady as a young PGA Tour player, but Reed’s got his moxie back with a pair of top-10 finishes coming into the week. Give me Reed, a San Antonio native, to win in his home state.

Prediction: Reed

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