This week the PGA Tour heads to San Francisco for the WGC Cadillac Matchplay event. This event is always a special one as traditional stroke play is replaced with a grueling 64-man match play format in which only the top players in the world are invited to compete. We think it is safe to say that golf fans everywhere will be pleased if this year’s tournament is just half as exciting as last year’s – where Jason Day outlasted Victor Dubuisson in an epic 23 hole championship match.

This year’s format has been tweaked a bit to closer mimic the World Cup in lieu of the traditional single elimination format throughout that was more similar to March Madness. The new format has the 64 golfers divided into 16 separate groups of four. Each golfer plays the other three members of his group for a total of three guaranteed matches. Then, the golfers with the best records in each of the groups advance to a single elimination tournament of 16 golfers. The two players who make it to the championship match will have played an astounding seven matches in just five days (Wednesday through Sunday)!

This week should be a great one that will surely include some big upsets and close matches that require playoff holes. However, only one golfer will remain and hoist the Walter Hagen Cup on Sunday afternoon!

Feel free to contact us with suggestions on fantasy content and enjoy the weekend!

How it works:

• My Guy: If I’m picking in a one-golfer league, and had to just pick one…he’s the guy.
• Stripes: “Man, I was striping it today” as the big guy (TW) likes to say. Call these guys my “favorites” each week.
• Wildcard: All in the name. Enough said.
• Shank: I hate to even say this word, especially on a golf course, so as you can imagine these are guys to avoid.

My Guy:

Henrik Stenson

• Won this event in 2007 and played TPC HP back in 2005
• Second on Tour in bogey avoidance – big advantage in match play
• 2014 Ryder Cup showcased his ability to be stone-cold in non-strokeplay events (3-1-0)

Stripes:

Bubba Watson

• Not necessarily easy first group (Bradley, Oosthuizen, Jimenez) and will likely run into Rickie or G-mac if he makes it to round of sweet 16
• But…his length and ability to recover from anywhere on the course can make opponents feel like they have to press – which may be why he’s 4-0 in the first round
• Tack on a solid year to date and he’s a clear favorite early on
• Main concern is staying focused for 7 matches

Sergio Garcia

• Favorable draw, plenty of history playing in matchplay formats
• Needs to find some confidence in the putter (quickly), but if he does, veterans tend to have a real advantage in this event
• Playing well in 2015 and is due for a big tournament- he is currently 14^th on the PGA Tour in overall scoring average and 13^th in strokes gained tee-to-green

Jason Day

• Defending champion has the grit and the fearless mentality that is required in match play
• Currently in strong form, 7^th in the FedEx Cup and a T4 last week at the Zurich Classic
• Complete package – 4^th on the Tour in driving distance (306.6 yards) and 7^th in GIR percentage (70.8%)

Patrick Reed

• Starting to be synonymous with matchplay formats since he clearly loves it. Thrives on the one-on-one aspect
• Appears to have drawn one of the easiest groups in the tournament
• Solid form to date this year with 8 (of 11) top 25 finishes, 3 top 10’s. MC at RBC is a blip on a pretty clean season.

Wildcards:

Paul Casey

• Strong in match play with a very cool, calm and collected demeanor
• Top 10s in his last two events (Shell Houston and Masters)

Victor Dubuisson

• Showed amazing skill and stamina in last year’s playoff loss in the championship
• Solid matchplay history, was a strong member of Team Europe back in September (2-0-1)

Shank:

Jason Dufner

• Received the worst draw of all 16 groups with McIlroy, Horschel, and Snedeker
• Poor form – hasn’t finished in the top 15 of any event in almost a year
• He’ll be ‘dufnering’ in the club house for the round of 16