Golf

WGC-Match Play Brackets: Who’s Playing Who in Group Play of the Final World Golf Championships Event Ever?

Luke Norris Sports Editor

Published20 Mar 2023

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After nearly a quarter-century, the World Golf Championships era will come to an end on Sunday when the final putt drops at the WGC-Match Play event, which was first played in 1999. For those unaware, the event has been dropped as the PGA Tour and Austin Country Club couldn’t reach an agreement on a contract extension.

Despite the absence of a few notable names, including Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, and those who’ve defected to LIV Golf, this final edition is sure to entertain as 64 of the top 79 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking will tee it up this week at Austin Country Club with $20 million in total prize money on the line.

For those unfamiliar with the WGC-Match Play format, it’s quite simple. The 64 players are divided into 16 groups of four. And to ensure the top 16 overall seeds don’t have to face another top-16 player until the knockout stage, they’re all separated into different groups.

Over the first three days, the four golfers from each pod battle each other in one-on-one matches, with the highest point earner from each group advancing to the elimination stage. From there, the 16 stage winners compete in a single-elimination, March Madness-style bracket until a champion is crowned.

Easy enough, right?

So let’s see what the groups for the final edition of the WGC-Match Play look like.

Jon Rahm got a bit of an unlucky draw at the WGC-Match Play

No. 2 seed Jon Rahm kicks off @DellMatchPlay with a HUGE match against Rickie Fowler! pic.twitter.com/wwbPKMUOMq
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 20, 2023

As mentioned, the top 16 seeds are all placed in separate groups. Now, one would think the higher-ranked players like world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Jon Rahm, who are truly in a class of their own right now, would have it a little easier than some of the others, right?

But that’s not necessarily always true. And that’s certainly not the case for Rahm this year, as his group features Billy Horschel, who won the WGC-Match Play just two years ago. Then there’s Keith Mitchell, who’s been playing fantastic golf recently and has a pair of top-five finishes in his last five starts.

And then you’ve got Rickie Fowler, who continues to look more and more like the Rickie Fowler who was once the fourth-ranked player in the world. So Rahm, who’s playing some of the best golf of his career, might not even make it out of his group.

So keep your eye on that pod this week.

Fifth-seeded Max Homa also got a bit of an unlucky draw as his group features 2021 Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama, 2019 WGC-Match Play champ Kevin Kisner, and Justin Suh, who recently finished sixth at The Players Championship.

Let’s take a look at the rest.

Every group at the WGC-Match Play

Here’s a look at all 16 groups for the 2023 edition of the WGC-Match Play. Each player’s current standing in the Official World Golf Ranking is in parentheses.