World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and new Masters Champion Jordan Spieth headline a betting field that includes all but one of the top 50 in the current golf rankings. The WGC - Cadillac Match Play tournament has a new wrinkle in it this year with a change in format that should provide us with more action to bet on.
Gone is the 64-man bracket where if you lost on the first day you were out. All players are assured of playing three matches with the winners of each four-man group advancing to the weekend. The new format is great for fans and even better for gamblers.
This week’s WGC - Cadillac Match Play golf odds and golf matchups are up and ready to play at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker was the first sportsbook to have the live odds, group matchups, golf props and golf matchups available to wager on.
Current WGC - Cadillac Match Play First Round Matchups at BookMaker Sportsbook (match play record next to name):
Group 1
Rory McIlroy (11-6) vs. Jason Dufner (2-3)
Billy Horschel (1-1) vs. Brandt Snedeker (3-3)
This group could come down to a rematch of the 2007 Walker Cup between McIlroy and Horschel. Dufner will be no match for World No. 1 Mcilroy in the opening tussle, but the second match between Horschel and Snedeker is a coin toss. In the history of this event, the No. 1 overall seed has only won three times, so be careful picking McIlroy to go the distance.
Group 2
Jordan Spieth (3-1) vs. Mikko Ilonen (0-2)
Lee Westwood (11-15) vs. Matt Every (0-0)
Spieth has the easiest group in my opinion. Westwood has the name, but not the game and Ilonen and Every are no match for Spieth. But remember going forward that Spieth is the No. 2 overall seed and no player in that position has ever won this event.
Group 3
Henrik Stenson (13-7) vs. John Senden (2-3)
Bill Haas (1-4) vs. Brendon Todd (0-0)
Stenson won this event in 2007, was third a year later and in 2014 got to the final of the Volvo Match Play Championship so the Swede loves this format. The last time a WGC event was held at Harding Park (2005) Stenson finished T-3. Senden is in bad form, Haas has a terrible record in match play and Todd is making his debut in this event, which all point to Stenson advancing to the next round.
Group 4
Bubba Watson (9-5) vs Miguel Angel Jimenez (11-12)
Louis Oosthuizen (5-5) vs. Keegan Bradley (1-3)
Match play generally comes down to the flatstick and out of this group Oosthuizen stands out as my pick. Bradley has a poor record in this event and won’t make it past Oosthuizen in the first match. Watson should handle Jimenez setting up the money match between Watson and Oosthuizen in which the South African will prevail.
Group 5
Jim Furyk (15-14) vs. George Coetzee (0-2)
Martin Kaymer (11-7) vs. Thongchai Jaidee (3-3)
This group is wide open! Furyk would appear to be the favorite after winning the RBC Heritage in his last start, but his match play record leaves something to be desired and he will have a difficult time getting by Coetzee in his first match. Kaymer has missed three straight cuts and Jaidee only plays well in Thailand. Coetzee upsets Furyk giving him the momentum to advance to the weekend.
Group 6
Justin Rose (7-9) vs. Marc Leishman (0-1)
Ryan Palmer (1-1) vs. Anirban Lahiri (0-0)
After starting out the year by missing two cuts in a row, Justin Rose has found his stride, picking up a win last week in New Orleans after finishing second at the Masters. Palmer may give Rosey a match, but in the end, it’s the Englishman that advances.
Group 7
Jason Day (14-3) vs. Charlie Hoffman (0-1)
Zach Johnson (7-10) vs. Brendan Grace (0-2)
I love Grace against Johnson in this matchup. Johnson has lost in the first round seven out of 10 tries and his once silky putting stroke has gone south. Day is the heavy favorite in this group, but I have a feeling that he will slip up and not make it to the next round. Grace is my pick.
Group 8
Dustin Johnson (2-6) vs. Matt Jones (0-0)
Victor Dubuisson (5-1) vs. Charl Schwartzel (6-6)
I think the winner of the Dubuisson and Schwartzel match will win this group. Johnson has a poor match play record mainly because he doesn’t putt well enough and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jones pull the upset in the first match. The format will aid Dubuisson the most who tends to make too many “others” when competing in a stroke play event. In the end, Schwartzel will get the money and move on to another day.
Group 9
Adam Scott (14-12) vs. Francesco Molinari (1-5)
Chris Kirk (0-1) vs. Paul Casey (16-9)
I love Paul Casey in this format. He has tasted plenty of match play success over the years in both this tournament, the Ryder Cup and the World Match Play Championship. I am excited to watch the Scott/Casey matchup. Scott is the favorite in this group but it will be Casey who moves on.
Group 10
Sergio Garcia (15-13) vs. Tommy Fleetwood (0-0)
Jamie Donaldson (0-2) vs. Bernd Wiesberger (0-1)
This is the ALL Europe group. It will come down to Wiesberger and Garcia fighting to move on. It’s Fleetwood’s first appearance and Donaldson is still battling erratic ball-striking. The venue will favor Garcia, who finished T-3 the last time Harding Park was in the rotation (2005). Wiesberger is the one that would scare me if I was backing Garcia, the kid is strong and will not be intimidated when the two play each other.
Group 11
Jimmy Walker (1-1) vs. Gary Woodland (0-2)
Ian Poulter (22-12) vs. Webb Simpson (5-3)
This is the Group of Death! Walker has two wins this year, Poulter loves match play and is quietly having a great year, the long-hitting Woodland can beat anyone on any given day and Simpson is the only one of the four with a Major in his pocket. Poulter’s experience will be the difference as he moves on to the weekend.
Group 12
J.B. Holmes (3-2) vs. Marc Warren (0-0)
Brooks Koepka (0-0) vs. Russell Henley (1-1)
Holmes beat Tiger Woods one year at this event but hasn’t done much since. Koepka is making his first start in this event and may still be battling rib problems. Warren is a solid player that plays the European Tour and Henley is a fierce competitor that will flourish in this format. I am backing Henley to get the job done and move on.
Group 13
Rickie Fowler (7-4) vs. Harris English (2-1)
Graeme McDowell (9-8) vs. Shane Lowry (2-1)
This group is a coin flip! All four players have had recent struggles and whoever finds their game will advance. McDowell may still be dealing with an ankle problem, Fowler is in love and can’t think straight, English doesn’t have the fire to advance and Lowry has missed two of his last three cuts. Flip a coin!
Group 14
Matt Kuchar (17-4) vs. Ben Martin (0-0)
Hunter Mahan (17-6) vs. Stephen Gallacher (0-2)
Check out the records of Kuchar and Mahan. A combined 34-10! The winner of the Kuchar/Mahan match will decide who advances. I love Mahan against Gallacher in the first round. Gallacher is 1-10 lifetime in match play events.
Group 15
Patrick Reed (1-1) vs. Andy Sullivan (0-0)
Ryan Moore (4-4) vs. Danny Willett (0-0)
Sullivan and Willett are making their first starts at this event and both will lose their opening matchups. Reed’s grit can carry him only so far as his game is stuck in neutral, which paves the way for Ryan Moore to get the money in this group.
Group 16
Hideki Matsuyama (1-1) vs. Alexander Levy (0-0)
Kevin Na (0-2) vs. Joost Luiten (0-1)
Wow, this group is super tough. The favorite is Matsuyama but you have to wonder if the Japanese star’s inexperience in match play will hinder his performance. Levy is a great putter who could make some noise in this group if he can somehow take out Matsuyama in his first match. The Na and Luiten match will be entertaining and one that Na should come out on top.
“Match play is totally different then stroke play and gives the edge to the best putter, said a former PGA Tour player. “In one round, anything can happen and usually does in this format. There will be plenty of upsets which makes match play that much more enjoyable to watch. In picking a winner, I would take a player with plenty of experience and success in match play and a player with an attitude that can handle the grind of this format”.
TV Coverage: Wednesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Friday, 5-10 p.m. (GC); Saturday, 3-7:30 p.m. (GC), 7:30-11 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (GC), 2-6 p.m. (NBC).
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