WGC Match Play: Elementary for Watson but Augusta blow for Poulter

What happened at the WGC-Match Play?

Bubba Watson began the week with a front nine of 28, he ended it with his second title of the season and doubled his WGC haul after a 7&6 thrashing of Kevin Kisner.

The final itself was a pathetic affair as Kisner lost the first five holes after struggling with all parts of his game. If there was a mistake to be made Kisner made it and Watson sailed serenely on with his trademark big hitting and shotmaking. That said he reached the turn in just two under to sit six holes to the good.

When Kisner did hole a long one, for par at the 10th, Watson made birdie but then he did win his first hole with his first birdie of the final at the next.

Stuff the approach ✅
Bury the putt ✅@BubbaWatson is now 7-up thru 10.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/59Lpn2ZyUg

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 25, 2018

But it was all over at the next when Watson got up and down for the second biggest margin of victory but Tiger Woods’ 8&7 demolition of Stewart Cink in 2008 was over 36 holes.

In the morning Kisner, who also beat Matt Kuchar before thrashing Ian Poulter in the knockout stages, had enjoyed a brilliant battle with Alex Noren as both players holed everything early on before the American edged through at the first extra hole. Watson stopped Justin Thomas from becoming the World No 1 with a 3&2 victory.

The Swede pocketed bundles of Ryder Cup points by beating Thomas 5&3 in the play-off match.

Talking Point

Coming into the week the widely-held view was that Ian Poulter needed to reach the quarter-finals to elevate himself into the top 50 in the world and, with it, a place in the Masters.

So when Poulter, seeded 58th for the week, took out Louis Oosthuizen 2&1 in the last-16 clash he was reliably informed that he would be on his way back to Augusta National.

And then he got an altogether different message that said that he needed one more win and, what do you know, the Englishman got stuffed 8&6 by Kisner.

Just to let you know.. I am not in the Masters, I was told after this mornings round that I was in the Masters by Golf Channel, The Media, @EuropeanTour, 10 minutes before I tee’d off this afternoon I was told sorry points weren’t correct your not in yet. #DisappointingMistake

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) March 24, 2018

“I should never listen to other people. When you finish a round of golf and the press and everybody is 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. You need to go and win.’ Not that that’s an excuse in any form or factor, it’s a little disappointing.”

Which now leaves Poulter in a quandary as regards this week’s Houston Open, a tournament he now needs to win to make it to the year’s opening major.“I haven’t decided. I’m tired. It’s been a long week. It’s been a draining week. I’ll wait until Monday night and if I have the energy then I will.”

There was good news though for Chez Reavie, Dylan Frittelli, Satoshi Kodaira and Cameron Smith who kept their places inside the top 50 but the likes of Keegan Bradley and Kevin Na failed to pick up enough points.

Best quote

“Played Match Play in Tucson in 2014. Early group on Wednesday, lost. Threw clubs in my car and was on my couch in Scottsdale by 2:00 pm. Collect 30K and spend the weekend at home. That’s a good format. This one sucks,” Canada’s Graham DeLaet, who wasn’t in this year’s field

Moments of the week

BOOM!

From 51 1/2 feet, @K_Kisner holes an eagle putt to square the match against Alex Noren. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/SWLLRVc2ts

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 25, 2018

.@JustinThomas34 and @BubbaWatson approach a 377-yard par 4.

Spoiler alert: they didn't lay up. pic.twitter.com/zmbhF5typy

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 25, 2018

"This is gonna be fun."#BubbaGolf always is.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/eQmzIn7tB8

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 24, 2018

The shot is great. ?
The celebration is, too. ?

Matt Kuchar's ace is the #ShotOfTheDay. pic.twitter.com/fj61wN9e7Q

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 24, 2018

As good as it gets. ?

(Without going in)#ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/2DINILxvqy

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2018

From 361 yards to 33 feet!

This perfect tee shot led @TheSergioGarcia to victory.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/lVqe35QBdm

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2018

Pin high with your socks on. ??

Good work, @TheSergioGarcia!#ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/diXvA3qcHs

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2018

From 3-down to 1-down, all with a sand wedge as his putter.

Luke List has made a match of it against FedExCup No. 1 Justin Thomas. Two holes left. pic.twitter.com/d8H1RgrRVH

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2018

But … wait … what?

No, seriously. How?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/HwbcKdJQmk

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2018

Best stats

DJ went long. REAL LONG.

489 yards. ??

Statistics do not officially count in this event. But the longest drive on TOUR in the ShotLink era (2003) is 476 yards by @Love3d. pic.twitter.com/EHgMscMhdt

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2018

22 matches finished today so far. ZERO draws.#DellMatchPlay

— Nosferatu (@VC606) March 22, 2018

NO.1 WATCH:

The battle for No.1 at @TheMasters will be a 3-horse race at least, with @DJohnsonPGA, @JustinThomas34 & @JonRahmpga certain to have a chance.

And that could become a 5-horse race if @JordanSpieth & @JustinRose99 have good finishes in Houston next week. #OWGR

— Nosferatu (@VC606) March 25, 2018

Best tweets

This exchange between @TyrrellHatton and a fan. ? pic.twitter.com/OQoPzVvqT3

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 24, 2018

I get that players didn't want to travel around the world for one match…

I get that the tourney lost a bunch of stars by Wednesday evening…

I get that round-robin allows more reps heading into Masters…

… but I still miss single-elimination, best Wednesday of the year.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) March 21, 2018