Event of the Day: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Day 1
Our event of the day is Day 1 of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club in Texas. With one of the strongest fields of the year and played in the Match Play format, this tournament is hotly anticipated. The world’s top 64 ranked players have all been given invites with world number one Dustin Johnson returning to Austin to defend the title that he won last year. He is likely to run into some very stiff competition with numerous players beginning to find their best form with the Masters just a few weeks away. Past winner Rory McIlroy stormed to his first tour victory in nearly two years last weekend in Florida and is looking back to his best.
Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose were both in contention too and will be keen to maintain their form as we approach the first major of the year. After winning the WGC-Mexico at the start of the month, Phil Mickelson has made sure he too can’t be ruled out as a contender. With only 16 group winners progressing from the group stage there is no doubt that the Match Play format brings an intriguing and different edge to this weeks golf and with other big names such as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed all teeing up, it would be impossible to call who will be making the final come Sunday. With the return of Tiger Woods to the highest level, even though he isn’t competing here, the game of Golf has had a huge boost in the last few weeks and organisers will be hoping that excitement continues to build throughout the tournament.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to Day 1 of the ATP Miami Open at Crandon Park. Roger Federer was the champion here last year, and after losing to Juan Martín Del Potro in the final at Indian Wells last week, he will be hoping to retain his title. Also in Miami, the WTA tournament begins its second day. In the NBA the race for playoff spots continues as the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Toronto Raptors, the Milwaukee Bucks play the Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Wizards are in Texas to play the San Antonio Spurs. In the NHL, the St. Louis Blues play the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks are in Calgary to face the Flames. In cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers continue with the Super Six stage match between Scotland and the West Indies which is effectively a knockout match. The North v South cricket series continues in the Caribbean with the second match in the series, Snooker’s Ladbrokes Players Championship continues and the Gymnastic’s World Cup in Birmingham begins.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by PGA Tour