With the US Masters just 11 days away, defending champion Dustin Johnson led a big group of the world’s best who failed to qualify for the weekend at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Austin, Texas.
The carnage was staggering with Johnson (1), Jon Rahm (3), Jordan Spieth (4), Hideki Matsuyama (6), Rory McIlroy (7), Jason Day (11), Tommy Fleetwood (12), Paul Casey (13), Marc Leishman (15), Phil Mickelson (18), and Pat Perez (19) were all casualties after the round robin qualifying section.
With Justin Rose (5), Rickie Fowler (8), Brooks Koepka (9), and Henric Stenson (14) non-starters, only five of the world’s top 20 made it to the weekend.
Justin Thomas (2) and Sergio Garcia (10) were the best of them to remain unbeaten after three rounds, with Tyrell Hatton (16), Alex Noren (17), and Matt Kuchar (20) quite capable of creating an upset in the sudden death format.
Garcia, who was behind at the turm in all three starts, carded the most birdies with 18, while Hatton recorded the least with just six.
The biggest disappointments were Johnson and Spieth.
Johnson never made it to the 18th in three matches with his only claim to fame a massive 489 yard drive that would have been a PGA Tour record, but stats in Match Play aren’t official.
The reason why remains a golfing mystery.
Spieth, of all people, had a shocking start against Patrick Reed, with the winner to qualify for the weekend.
Jordan Spieth. (Photo: AP)
Reed didn’t have to putt until the third hole after Spieth crashed out of bounds on the first two to post double bogeys.
Reed went on to win 2 and 1 in a match that promised so much, but provided so little.
It will be interesting to see how many of the casualties start in this weeks Houston Open in the last hitout before the Masters.
It’s hard to believe there will be 20 Masters champions teeing off at Augusta, led by the defending champion Sergio Garcia.
Angel Cabrera, Freddie Couples, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Phil Mickelson, Larry Mize, Mark O’Meara, Jose Maria Olazabal, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson, Mike Weir, Tiger Woods, and Ian Woosnam have all worn the coveted green jacket.
Only three Australians will tee up this year – Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman.
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