Racing Post's WGC Match Play groups preview and free golf betting tips

Free golf tips, best bets and analysis for the group stage of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club, Texas.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 2.20pm Wednesday

Best bets

Dustin Johnson to win Group Eight
2pts 15-8 BoyleSports, Coral, Ladbrokes

Brian Harman to win Group 15
1pt 3-1Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

The advent of a group stage to the WGC Match Play originated to encourage the progress of the top seeds in the tournament, but sometimes it doesn't work out like that.

Last year, fourth seed Collin Morikawa and eighth seed Tyrrell Hatton failed to win any of their three pool games while the only two players to claim three victories were Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter and Matt Kuchar, who were both considered the outsiders in their sections by organisers.

Eight of the 16 players to make it through to the knockout stage were seeded between 49th and 64th, so it is difficult to see any of the big guns having an open door to the weekend.

One player who should be fancied to do so, however, is 2017 champion Dustin Johnson. It has been more than a year since the former world number one claimed his last tournament victory at the Saudi International, but there have been recent signs of resurgence which should encourage those who fancy he could have a big week.

Johnson has finished in the top ten in six of his last 12 outings and a 63 in the final round at the Players Championship two weeks ago shows he could be primed for a big spring, even if last week's 39th at the Valspar was an average effort.

His Group Eight rivals are not in great form, with Matthew Wolff's 61st at the Arnold Palmer Invitational his best effort in his last five Stateside tournament, and Mackenzie Hughes missing four of his last six cuts.

Max Homa makes up the quartet and has been solid in the last few weeks but he failed to make the knockout stage on his debut last year, so Johnson should be backed to outclass his rivals.

It is also worth chancing that dogged lefty Brian Harman can take the honours in Group 15 which features Abraham Ancer, former champion Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.

Harman has reached the last 16 on both of his WGC Match Play appearances – he was a losing quarter-finalist last year – and he finished fifth at the Valspar.

Meanwhile, Watson has made little impression in the States recently, Simpson is easing his way back in after an eight-week layoff with a neck injury, and Ancer has claimed just one top-ten finish in his last ten outings.

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