WGC-Match Play: Looking back at the past winners

After taking the year of last year, like so many sporting events did around this time, the PGA Tour is back in Austin to play the WGC-Match Play event, and it’s a great time for it.

We’ve already looked at the groups and some of the betting favorites to win, but I wanted to go back. To take a look at those who had won in the past. Maybe a little tournament history too.

Depending on how long you have been into golf, or heck, even how good your memory is, you might be surprised to find out how many places this specific week’s event has been played at, or at least the names that it has gone by.

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WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: 2017-current

WGC-Dell Match Play: 2016

WGC-Cadillac Match Play: 2015

WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship: 2001-2014

WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship: 1999-2000

The one that will stand out in most people’s minds is Accenture, having held the majority of the tournaments. The current iteration is the second-longest, as this will be its 4th time being held as the Dell Technologies.

Let’s look back at some of the winners (and almost winners) of the WGC-Match Play.

We will start back at the OG event in 1999, and most people in their mid-early ’30s likely won’t recognize the names Jeff Maggert or Andrew Magee, who finished first and second, respectively. It was a tight match, as the 24th seed Maggert beat the 50th seed in 38 holes, the longest match in the event’s finals history.

Darren Clarke would beat Tiger Woods in 2000, and that would be the last time we saw Tiger get second place, although far from the last time we saw him in the final. We wouldn’t have to wait long. After Steve Stricker won in 2001, the lone time the event was outside the US, and Kevin Sutherland won in 2002, Tiger came back with a vengeance.

He would win both in 2003 and 2004, becoming the only man to win two straight WGC-Match Play events. He beat David Toms in 2003, who actually came back in 2005 in the third-largest victory in the event, defeating Chris DiMarco 6&5. Geoff Ogilvy nearly went back-to-back, winning in 2006 over Davis Love III (who lost to Tiger in 2004 as well), before falling to Henrik Stenson in 2007.

Tiger would win his third WGC-Match Play in 2008 over Stewart Cink in what was also the largest victory ever in a final, 8&7. Geoff Ogilvy would join Tiger as the only multi-winners up to that point, defeating Paul Caser in 2009. Casey would lose again in an all-English final in 2010, this time to Ian Poulter. Luke Donald then made it back-to-back English wins in 2010, defeating second-seed Martin Kaymer.

It seems like players go through a stretch at this event of competing near the top a couple of times over a short span. David Toms, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Geoff Ogilvy, Paul Casey. That would continue with Hunter Mahan, as he won in 2012 before falling to Matt Kuchar in 2013. It would then be Jason Day, who would win both in 2014 and 2016, sandwiching the win by Rory McIlroy in 2015.

After DJ won in 2017, narrowly defeating Jon Rahm with a score of 1 Up, Kevin Kisner put in a solid two-year stretch. He lost horribly to Bubba Watson in 2018, 7&6. In 2019, he would redeem himself with a win over Matt Kuchar, becoming the first player to lose the finals and win the following year.

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

It seems like players who have had success at the tournament usually find the final a couple of times over a three-year stretch. Does this mean we should see Bubba Watson or Matt Kuchar once again? History tells us that it is a good possibility. We won’t see both, since they are each in Justin Thomas’ bracket. Keep an eye on them, and see if history truly does repeat itself at the WGC-Match Play event this week.

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