WGC-Dell Match Play: Last 16 Breakdown and Picks
After three entertaining days in Austin, group play came to a close on Friday, and we now know who has advanced to the last (Sweet) 16 at the WGC-Dell Match Play. Surprisingly there were not as many upsets in 2022, something that had been the case last year when just one seed from inside of the top twenty in the World rankings, Jon Rahm (3), survived the group phase.
This year eight of the top-seeded players advanced to the last 16, as might be expected from the best in the world. The list includes world number one Jon Rahm who will meet Brooks Koepka (16) in the next round, how enticing does that sound?! Defending champion Billy Horschel also advanced, as did Collin Morikawa (2), Scottie Scheffler (5), Dustin Johnson (8), Tyrrell Hatton (13), and Abraham Ancer (15).
Both the round of the last 16 and the Quarterfinals, are set to be played on Saturday. The Semi-Finals’, Third Place match, and Championship, will all be decided on Sunday to close out the week at Austin Country Club. Saturday is set to be packed full of action at the WGC-Dell Match Play so let’s dig into each of the 16 matches and pick some winners to move on!
Then there were 16 at the 2022 WGC-Dell Match Play
Jon Rahm vs Brooks Koepka (9:08 am EST)
Picture this, you get to watch the World number one Jon Rahm take on four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, and then you follow up this fantastic match by watching either of these two take on Dustin Johnson in the Quarterfinals, that sounds pretty great right?. Well, that is exactly how this will shape up unless Richard Bland can pull out what would be a surprising victory over DJ in the last 16.
As for this match it is a tough one to call, Rahm looked great over the first two days but he suffered defeat at the hands of Patrick Reed on Friday. The Spaniard needed help from Sebastian Munoz to secure the group one victory. Koepka meanwhile went 3-0 in what was a pretty tricky group and he seems to be locked in this week. It is for that small reason that I lean with Brooks, but let’s be honest, this one is a complete toss-up.
Winner: Brooks
Dustin Johnson vs Richard Bland (8:57 am EST)
These two will contest the other part of this bracket with the winner playing either Rahm or Koepka in the Quarterfinals as previously mentioned. Bland has been a great story this week and he can continue to make big headlines if he were to pull this one off as well. I just don’t see it, DJ is beginning to look like the DJ of old and I envision a tricky start but a comfortable victory in the end for the World number 11.
Winner: DJ
Scottie Scheffler vs Billy Horschel (8:35 am EST)
It is a rematch of last year’s WGC-Dell Match Play Championship for these two. Scottie came through a very challenging group after a playoff win over England’s Matt Fitzpatrick on Friday. Billy Horschel did just enough to hold off a late charge from Thomas Pieters in his final match. Scottie Scheffler exacts some revenge for last year’s loss and he beats Horschel in the 2022 edition of the WGC-Dell Match Play.
Winner: Scheffler
Tyrrell Hatton vs Seamus Power (8:46 am EST)
Power was a surprise winner of group four as he beat out higher-ranked seeds Patrick Cantlay and Sungjae Im to advance. Much like Rahm, the Irishman Seamus Power lost his final match on Friday but he got the results he needed in order to move on. Hatton meanwhile, survived a tough group that also included Daniel Berger, the Englishman went 3-0 and won his final match in what was a tight contest with Berger on Friday. Seamus Power continues to surprise and moves on to the Quarterfinals at the WGC-Dell Match Play.
Winner: Power
Related Story. 2022 WGC-Dell Match Play: Top 10 power rankings at Austin CC. light
Collin Morikawa vs Abraham Ancer (9:52 am EST)
This is another intriguing match-up in the last 16. Morikawa sandwiched a draw with Sergio Garcia on day two with a pair of wins on both days one and three. He was tested in his final match by Jason Kokrak but did just enough to move on after a 1UP victory.
Ancer won a tricky group that also included Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson, and Brian Harman. But surviving this challenging group may have an adverse effect on the 15 seed in this spot. A seemingly fresher Morikawa moves on.
Winner: Morikawa
Corey Conners vs Takumi Kanaya (9:41 am EST)
Kanaya is one of the surprises of the 2022 WGC-Dell Match Play as he came out of a group that included both Xander Schauffele, and Tony Finau. Takumi won a playoff over the third group member Lucas Herbert to advance as the lowest-seeded player out of group seven.
Canadian Corey Conners was a surprise winner over Alex Noren on the final day, even though both players entered Friday with 2-0 records. The Swede had looked largely impressive through two days in a strange group. The 19th seed in this year’s tournament was Paul Casey, but he hardly played after dealing with back issues. This resulted in the other members of Conners group being awarded an extra win by default, Conners included.
It has been a great run for Kanaya but you just feel his run will end against the talented Corey Conners on Saturday.
Winner: Conners
Want your voice heard? Join the Pro Golf Now team!
Kevin Kisner vs Adam Scott (9:19 am EST)
A strong argument could be made that Kevin Kisner has looked better than any other player in the WGC-Dell Match Play through the first three days. Kisner went 3-0 and came out of a tough group 6 on paper, a group that included Justin Thomas, Marc Leishman, and Luke List.
Scott’s group was no pushover either, he went 2-0-1 in group 11 and beat out Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, and Keegan Bradley to advance when all was said and done.
It is hard to pick against Kisner after how he has looked after three days, Kisner beats another tough opponent and may just be beginning a deep run in this year’s WGC.
Winner: Kisner
If the WGC-Dell Match Play were medal play: Day 2. dark. Next
Kevin Na vs Will Zalatoris (9:30 am EST)
Willy Z knocked out the number three seed Viktor Hovland after a playoff, this came after having to beat him in his final match just to reach the playoff hole. Kevin Na fought back against Joaquin Niemann to secure a vital win, a win that ensured he also had a playoff against Maverick McNealy.
This could sneakily be one of the better matches on Saturday and it does not seem like there is very much to split these two. In the end, though, it is Texas local Will Zalatoris who advances in the Lone Star State.
Winner: Zalatoris