WGC Dell Match Play Final Four: Kisner, Noren, Thomas, Bubba

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Given the possible nightmare scenarios that were brewing, the final four of the 2018 WGC Dell Match Play look sensational on paper.

Given that all four are intriguing Masters contenders for different reasons, and I'm not sure a Tiger-less Dell Match Play could set up much better.

Sunday Morning Semifinal Matches:

(13) Alex Noren vs. (32) Kevin Kisner

(2) Justin Thomas vs. (35) Bubba Watson

Alex Noren is Sunday's most intriguing possibility, as a signature win at the Dell would vault him up most Masters lists and make those of us who might, or might have placed a small deposit on his prospects back in the 90-1 days. 

Check out these comments from Johnny and Gary Koch during today's telecast:

Johnny Miller – “I don’t think he has any weaknesses that I can see… He’s sort of got it all – good distance, good iron player and good putter.”

Gary Koch – “There are only two players on the PGA TOUR this year that rank in the top-20 in strokes gained putting and strokes gained tee-to-green. Noren is one of them.”

Aiken's Kevin Kisner is always a fascinating story this time of year given his hometown and his continued love of match play, which was exposed at last year's highly-successful Presidents Cup debut. 

And I don't need to tell you that Bubba Watson and Justin Thomas are two Masters favorites facing off.  As Rex Hoggard notes,

Sunday's TV Times (ET):

Semifinals                                                                              10 a.m.-2 p.m.            Golf Channel
Championship and Consolation Matches                              3-7 p.m.                      NBC

Saturday's highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment:

SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the In the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals of the 2018 World Golf Championships - Dell Technologies Match Play, Justin Thomas scorches through the competition to become the favorite heading into the final day.

Poulter Understandably Fuming After Thinking He Was In Masters Following Quarterfinal Win

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In defense of the number-crunchers, they are working with Official World Golf Ranking algorithms to figure out if Ian Poulter would qualify for The Masters upon graduating to the WGC Dell Match Play quarterfinals. Theoretically, reaching the quarters would have put him in the World top 50 Monday morning and therefore earn a Masters invite based on the top 50 world cut off of March 25.

However, guessing OWGR shifts is dicey business at best. That's why most weeks folks always suggest a "likely" rankings landing spot for a player. Add the match play dynamics and calculations could easily be wrong. 

Nonetheless, you can imagine Ian Poulter's frustration after asking and being told he was in the Masters after his 2&1 win over Louis Oosthuizen.

From Keith Jackson's Sky Sports story:

"I guess I should never listen to other people," said Poulter. "You finish a round of golf and the press and everybody are telling you you're in the Masters, and then you get a text message 10 minutes before you tee off to correct everybody, to say 'oh, we've made a mistake, actually, no, that was wrong, you're not in.'"

Poulter lost to Kevin Kisner 8&6 after finding out the math was wrong and he needed to win that match for a Masters berth.

His Tweet to the people...

489 Yards: Dustin's Drive Won't Count As Tour's Longest Drive Ever

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Dustin Johnson hit a 489-yard driving during his round 3, 2018 WGC Dell Match Play face-off with Kevin Kisner (eventually losing the match 4&3). 

As Rex Hoggard explains for GolfChannel.com, the drive does not count as the longest in PGA Tour history because the Match Play records are not included. But remember, the numbers at non-major venues, and non-match play venues are flat so these more athletic players today are not hitting it longer except when they are.

Instagram Wrap: Kuchar's Ace, Phil And McConaughey Chat, Green Canoos And An Open Stumper

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Matt Kuchar with an 8-iron from 181-yards hole in one, round 3 WGC Dell Match Play.

An 🚨ACE🚨 for Kuuuuuuuch!!!!

6,014 Likes, 60 Comments - PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Instagram: "An 🚨ACE🚨 for Kuuuuuuuch!!!!"

Matthew McConaughey and Phil Mickelson chatting Thursday at the WGC Dell Match Play. A caption contest waiting to happen.

Imagine the stories.

27.8k Likes, 270 Comments - PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Instagram: "Imagine the stories."

Hey folks, the 20% off SHACK code still works at Canoos. I get nothing other than the satisfaction of getting you in some sweet green golf shoes!

A fun guessing game posted by The Open:

Name the player, name the course 👇 #TBT

2,782 Likes, 124 Comments - The Open (@theopen) on Instagram: "Name the player, name the course 👇 #TBT"

Phil: "I'm walking with my head down"

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After coming back to beat Satoshi Kodaira in a WGC Dell Match Play Group 14 match, Phil Mickelson clarified the attitude issues he's been confronting this week to Golf Channel.

"I don't know what to say. I'm a little disappointed in my attitude. I'm walking with my head down. And you know what happens when you walk with your head down, animals, they get eaten.

I didn't have great energy. I wasn't really up. And I was fortunate to turn it around in the end. But I'm not real happy with the way I came out and wasn't real positive and wasn't really focused.

I've got to get my attitude a little better. I was a little bit whiney. 

Rory Pushes Back: "It's golf at the end of the day. It's not football"

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Commissioner Jay Monahan has downplayed issues with fan behavior as part of welcoming new fans to the sport, as I noted for Golfweek. But he also said the uptick is the price of being in the world of sports where rooting against someone is the nature of things.

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From Rex Hoggard's GolfChannel.com piece where Monahan is quoted replying to McIlroy's suggestion of cutting off alcohol sales. 

"In any sport, you go to an away game, in any other sport, and people aren’t rooting for you. Sometimes out here you’re going to have fans that aren’t rooting for you, but they can’t interfere with what you’re trying to do competitively.”

After a WGC Dell Match Play round 2 win over Jonny Vegas, McIlroy was asked about heckling in golf and disagreed with the Commissioner's view that golf is in the same boat as other sports.

I made my comments last week on St. Patrick's Day when everyone was just a few too many deep. I don't know, I'm all for people coming out here, having a good time. I don't know. It depends.

I think what happened to Justin Thomas at the Honda, that went over the line. I think that was too much. Because that's not -- it's golf at the end of the day. It's not football. There's decorum, there's etiquette, there's a lot of that that goes on in golf. Not that it doesn't go on in football, when you are on the field you can't hear all that stuff. We're a little thin rope that divides the fans from us, you can still hear what they are saying.

Spieth On Showdown With Reed, Scheduling Around "Dome" Golf

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I wrote up a Golfweek preview of Jordan Spieth vs. Patrick Reed, a Friday WGC Dell Match Play showdown drawing more interest than it should...until you read Spieth's description of their working relationship. 

The Forecaddie also featured some of Spieth's comments about loving wind golf and the creativity it demands. So much so he schedules with wind in mind. 

Spieth played this beautiful 13th hole approach shot in Thursday's breezy conditions. It's a difficult shot in benign weather...

Florida Gets Its Swing Back: Key Portion Of 2019 Schedule Takes Shape

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The Forecaddie with some great early news on the PGA Tour's schedule revamp, expected to be finalized at the Players Championship: Florida again will have four events in a row like the good old days.

In recent years, mixing Mexico City in, saying goodbye to Doral and watching The Players arrive in May has meant discombobulation. Not anymore! 

Good Samaritans Spot Women's British Champ's Airline-Lost Clubs At Play It Again Store

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Reigning Ricoh Women's British Open winner In-Kyung Kim’s clubs went missing in late January on American Airlines flight from Miami to San Diego, but three good samaritans spotted the sticks and bag--with ID and pockets still full--at a local used sports equipment store. 

Golfweek's Beth Ann Baldry with one of the stranger (but happy ending!) stories you'll read about airline-lost golf clubs. And the happy reunion:

Rapid-Expanding PGA Tour Superstores Moving Into Vacated Retail, Claim Better Attendance Than Tournaments!

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As the retail sector struggles and my distant relative Geoffrey The Giraffe is retired, the burgeoning PGA Tour Superstore chain is actually looking to expand, including into old Toys R Us locations.

Thanks to reader FS for Brent Schrotenboer's USA Today feature on the appeal of the stores and their amazing foot traffic owed in part to having an indoor range experience.

Since 2011, the chain has more than tripled in locations, from nine to 32 now. It plans to open around five more this year alone and hopes to increase to 50 locations by the end of 2020.

The chain’s CEO, Dick Sullivan, even told USA TODAY Sports that he’s been scouting several old Toys R Us and Babies R Us locations that are up for auction after Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy last year.

“There are hundreds of them out there that are available and the perfect size for us, usually around 37,000 square feet,” Sullivan said.

This number on foot traffic, attributable to the ability to rent a range stall, get fit or take lessons, is rather amazing given where retail is going.

The PGA Tour is a minority owner of the chain and has a 50-year license with it that expires in 2060. About 7.5 million customers visited the Superstore in the last year, Sullivan said, exceeding the attendance at Tour events.

WGC Dell Match Play: Best Of Round One Includes Uihlein Upset Of McIlroy, Garcia Playing In Socks And A Thomas Recovery Shot

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Peter Uihlein pulled off the biggest win of the day, holding on to beat last week's winner Rory McIlroy 2&1. That and other news are summed up in Doug Ferguson's AP game story from Austin. 

Uihlein, a former U.S. Amateur champion, discussed why he loves the format. I think it's fascinating to hear someone with success at the format not trying to convince he just plays against the course.

Q. Why do you like match play? What is it about it that you enjoy?

PETER UIHLEIN: I just think you make double, you're not dropping about 40 spots, it helps. I think it kind of frees you up a little bit in a weird way. It's different because you're -- obviously in match play you're playing the golf course. But you're really not. You're trying to play your opponent. You're just trying to put pressure on them as much as you can.

And a guy like Rory who is obviously going to be a lot longer than me, I can kind of come in the greens first. I felt like if I executed and put some pressure on him that would eventually kind of maybe go more towards my favor. But I think I'm playing Harmon tomorrow, it will be the total opposite. He'll be coming in first on every hole.

Yeah, I think you kind of mix and match your game plan based on your opponent or the situation, really. If I was in Rory's shoes on 13, I would probably dry to hit driver on the green. You definitely change based on where you're at in the match, for sure.

The full day one match recaps from Golfweek.

The updated tee times, match schedule and TV Times from Golfweek.

Sergio Garcia takes the top prize for shot of the day, taking his shoes off to play off the 12th hole road.

Justin Thomas with the other shot of the day at the 9th, one he played a touch more aggressively thanks to the match play setting. Thomas held on to beat Luke List, writes Rex Hoggard.

Luke List hung in gamely Justin Thomas using his wedge from the 7th hole on. 

Instagram Roundup: Day's Shoes, Inside The Champions Locker Room, A Green Coat Homage And Michelle Wie

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Jason Day took his shoe game to a different place with a laceless, velcro-less(?) look during round one of the WGC Dell Match Play.

@jasondayofficial, what are those? But seriously... what are they? @nikegolf #shoes #nike #spotted #photos #sneakerhead

2,785 Likes, 242 Comments - GolfWRX (@golfwrx) on Instagram: "@jasondayofficial, what are those? But seriously... what are they? @nikegolf #shoes #nike #spotted..."

This swell Masters video takes us inside the Champions Locker Room and outside the Champions dinner. Hit the link here if the play button is not appearing:

12 days until #themasters and a special room just for Masters champions. #cominginapril

8,835 Likes, 69 Comments - The Masters (@themasters) on Instagram: "12 days until #themasters and a special room just for Masters champions. #cominginapril"

The Criquet team unveiled a limited edition homage to green sports coats.

Be a Champion this year at Augusta or wherever you're watching the Masters tournament in our Limited Edition Players Shirt, "The Jacket". These babies are going quick so pick one up via link in our profile. Criquet lanyard included. #champion

394 Likes, 20 Comments - Criquet Shirts (@criquetshirts) on Instagram: "Be a Champion this year at Augusta or wherever you're watching the Masters tournament in our..."

Chris Otsen with a sweet black and white image of Michelle Wie, as compelling an athlete as ever. She tees off in the KIA Classic Thursday at Aviara.

One of the most photogenic swings in all of golf, thanks @themichellewie for letting us hangout with you today @callawaygolf #teamcallaway #kiaclassic

231 Likes, 6 Comments - Chris Otsen (@chrisotsen) on Instagram: "One of the most photogenic swings in all of golf, thanks @themichellewie for letting us hangout..."

WSJ: "Why Is Tony Romo Playing on the PGA Tour?"

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Thanks to reader John for Brian Costa's excellent synopsis of the many dimensions to Tony Romo's PGA Tour sponsor's invite in the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.

Romo, who tees off 8:10 am, was his usual to-the-point self, though clearly guarded about the reasons for why this week to take an exemption.

Organizers of the Dominican tournament—which is running opposite the more prestigious WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas—declined to answer questions about why they invited Romo. Romo’s agent did not respond to questions about how the invite came about.
At a news conference in February, Romo said he hoped that PGA Tour pros would withhold any skepticism until they see him play.
“It’s not rocket science,” Romo said. “If you can hit a golf ball and you can hit it—if you hit a 5-iron, you hit it 205 yards and you can put it to a back-right pin and fade it in there, they’re going to respect you. And if you can’t, then you’ll probably get some blowback.”