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2021 WGC-Match Play: Top 10 power rankings at Austin CC

By Mike Randleman

Mar 31, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Kevin Kisner plays from the fairway on the 12th hole during the final round of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament at Austin Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Spillman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Kevin Kisner plays from the fairway on the 12th hole during the final round of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament at Austin Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Spillman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Patrick Reed of the United States jokes with Michael Greller the caddie for Jordan Spieth (not pictured) on the first tee during the third round of the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament at Austin Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Patrick Reed of the United States jokes with Michael Greller the caddie for Jordan Spieth (not pictured) on the first tee during the third round of the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament at Austin Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /

Continuing with the career-best trend in 2021, I foresee Patrick Reed reaching the WGC-Match Play quarterfinals for the first time in his seventh try.

He was second in his pool in 2019 and reached the round of 16 in 2016 and 2018. We all know how much of a menace Reed is in team USA events, and I expect him to bring some of his “me against the world” mentality to Austin.

Reed seemed to draw a pretty reasonable group. His top competition is Joaquin Niemann, a tournament debutant who’s fared no better than T-25th in his last four starts coming in.

Next is another first-timer, South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout. He won back-to-back European Tour events in his home country to close 2020. Bezuidenhout caught more eyes with solo seventh a few weeks ago at Bay Hill with a crafty short game. I could see this being Reed’s longest match.

Bubba Watson is a past WGC-Match Play champ, but not in Austin. He showed some life with a couple of top-10s in the fall but has gone quiet in 2021. He can’t get to Augusta fast enough.

Reed’s short game and ability to finagle shots out of trouble can be maddening to opponents.

He’s also a good wind player. Not to mention the 30-year-old is first in strokes gained putting (1.101). Reed will move on to the round of 16 where he’ll prevail as the favorite against Hideki Matsuyama in a Presidents Cup-style meeting.

The must-see quarterfinals matchup could pit Reed against the recent Players Championship winner, Justin Thomas. Both could be repping the red, white, and blue in the Olympics and Ryder Cup later in the year. I see Thomas pouring in a 20-footer to nip Reed on the 20th hole.

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