Sam Greenwood/Getty Images. Pictured: Tyrrell Hatton
The 2021 WGC-Dell Match Play is made for March. Just like the NCAA Tournament, the WGC Match Play features 64 entrants and a format that is ripe for madness. The frenzy starts on Wednesday with 16 groups consisting of four players competing in a round robin format. The winners of those groups will then advance to the knock-out rounds before the champion is crowned on Sunday afternoon.
Here are our favorite group-winner bets for the 2021 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club:
Jason Sobel
Justin Thomas (+130) to win Group 2
My Action Network pod partner Justin Ray of the 15th Club tweeted Monday that only five players advanced through the group stage in each of the last two editions of this event — and three of them are in Group 2.
It’s true that Kevin Kisner, Louis Oosthuizen and Matt Kuchar have enjoyed some success at Austin CC, but this stat is also true: Thomas owns as many top-three finishes this year as those other three own top-10s — combined. I’m not one to dismiss course history, but I’ll usually defer to form first. Fresh off that win at THE PLAYERS, I expect JT to roll through this group.
| [Bet the WGC Match Play at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.] |
Chris Murphy
Ian Poulter (+400) to win Group 11
When I think of match play, Ian Poulter is one of the first names that comes to mind. He has thrived in this style of golf across his career whether it be in this event or Ryder Cups.
While he isn’t the player he once was, he still has the bulldog mentality it takes to be successful in a one on one match. Poulter will get his first test out of the gates with a struggling Rory McIlroy, which with a win can give him the momentum he needs to get going and make it out of this group at long odds.
| [Bet Ian Poulter at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.] |
Matt Vincenzi
Sergio Garcia (+230) to win Group 8
As frustrating as backing Sergio can be at times, there’s no denying he is playing some great golf right now. The Spaniard got himself into contention at THE PLAYERS Championship by way of a dazzling iron performance; gaining 8.3 strokes on approach.
Sergio also comes into the event with a great deal of match play familiarity having played in many Ryder Cups. He has compiled an impressive career record of 38-29-4 in singles matchups and has the experience advantage over the group favorite Tyrrell Hatton in regards to the tournament format.
Garcia is a golfer in great form with a great chance to come out of this group at an underdog price.
| [Bet Sergio Garcia at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.] |
Landon Silinsky
Tyrrell Hatton (+185) to win Group 8
Hatton is by far the best player in this group and despite the recent strong play from both Garcia and Lee Westwood, he should escape relatively unscathed here. Westwood figures to be somewhat burnt out, as the 47-year old will now be playing his fifth consecutive event after two gut-wrenching runner-up finishes at both the API and PLAYERS. Despite Garcia’s elite recent ball-striking numbers, I will never trust him in a big spot at this stage of his career.
Hatton has been in cruise control of late, but I do think he is one of the bigger favorite’s in this entire field to come out of his group, and at +185 it feels like there’s serious value here.
| [Bet Tyrrell Hatton at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.] |