Kiradech ready to shoot for flags after getting Rahm in draw
AUSTIN: In-form Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat is in upbeat mood after being drawn to meet world No.3 Jon Rahm of Spain and American duo Chez Reavie and Keegan Bradley in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, which begins today.
They are in Group 3 with the top player of each of 16 groups advance to the last16 round.
After Monday night’s draw, Kiradech said: “My last two wins were match play events so I’m not worried. Match play is fun and it’s all about making birdies. It fits my aggressive style of play and I’m always willing to go for my drives or to shoot for the flags, even in stroke play events.”
Last month, the big-hitting Thai claimed his fourth European Tour victory at the World Super 6 Perth, which used a sixhole match play elimination format on the final day.
Kiradech also won the Paul Lawrie Matchplay in 2015, while in 2016 he defeated Robert Streb and Jimmy Walker in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play but lost to Dustin Johnson to bow out of the group stage.
Kiradech missed the cut at Bay Hill last week.
“Certainly not an easy group,” said Rahm, who was runner-up to Johnson last year.
Sixteen groups of four will play roundrobin matches from today through Friday at Austin Country Club, where knockout competition begins with Saturday’s round of 16.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma will play Masters champion Sergio Garcia, 2017 PGA Tour rookie of the year Xander Schauffele of the US, and South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli in Group 7 of the preliminary stage.
“I think it’s a great group. I’ve played with Xander before and I know Dylan well, it’ll be a great group with Sergio there as well. I’ll have to play my best and make as many birdies as possible,” said Sharma.
While the Indian prospect will be making his debut at the tournament, he will be able to lean on some match play experience following his triumph at the All Indian Amateur in 2013.
“I love match play. The last time I played [that format] was 2013 when I played my last event as an amateur, and I ended winning the event. So I absolutely love match play as it’s a lot of fun and you go for a few shots which you don’t normally do in stroke play events,” he said.
“You just have to be as aggressive as possible which is the best part about match play.”
Sharma broke through for his first European Tour victory at the Joburg Open in December and won again in Kuala Lumpur last month before challenging at the WGCMexico Championship this month.
Texas native Jordan Spieth will find a familiar face waiting for him in roundrobin play in sometime US teammate Patrick Reed.
Spieth and Reed have teamed to great effect in two Ryder Cups and last year’s Presidents Cup, but will be meeting as match play opponents for the first time.
China’s Li Haotong Li, who is making his debut in Austin, and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel are also in the bracket.
Australian Jason Day, the 2016 champion when Austin Country Club hosted the event for the first time, beat South African Louis Oosthuizen in the final that year.
They’ll meet in the group stage this time around.
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama is in Group 5 with countryman Yusaku Miyazato, Cameron Smith and Patrick Cantlay.
Kim Si-Woo of South Korea, the reigning Players champion, will face American veteran Pat Perez, Gary Woodland and Webb Simpson in Group 15.
Phil Mickelson, who hasn’t played since winning the Mexico Championship, opens against Charles Howell III in the first round. Howell has two PGA Tour victories, one of them in a play-off over Mickelson at Riviera.