Johnson vs Thomas vs DeChambeau "Match King Competition"... What About Im Sungjae?

Clash at WGC Series Dell Technologies Match Play Opening Night on 24th, Kisner Defends Title, Kim Si-woo Joins

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is aiming for the title of 'Match King' at the Dell Technologies Match Play.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘No. 1 Seed’.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is now challenging the title of ‘Match King.’ The World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Dell Technologies Match Play, with a total prize of $10.5 million, opens on the night of the 24th (Korean time) at Austin Golf Club in Texas, USA (Par 71, 7,108 yards). It is the largest match play stage in the global golf world. World stars such as Justin Thomas and ‘Hulk’ Bryson DeChambeau (both from the USA) have gathered, and Korea is represented by Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics) at the starting line.

Johnson recorded 4 wins including 3 in the 2020 season and 1 in the 2021 season, and also set the record for the lowest winning score at the ‘Fall Masters’ in November (20 under par, 268 strokes). This year, he also demonstrated his ‘Number 1 power’ by winning the European Tour’s Saudi International in February. It was rather surprising that he finished tied for 48th at ‘The Players Championship,’ known as the ‘fifth major,’ which ended on the 15th. His iron shots faltered, making for a tough path.

However, this tournament has been Johnson’s ‘winning stronghold,’ where he achieved an unstoppable 7 consecutive wins in March 2017. It is interesting that Johnson is called the ‘WGC Slammer.’ He swept four different WGC Series trophies: the 2013 HSBC Champions, the 2015 Workday Championship (then Cadillac Championship), the 2016 Bridgestone Invitational, and this tournament in 2017. The 2019 tournament, where he was eliminated in the group stage with 1 win and 2 losses, adds a sense of ‘revenge match.’

'Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau is already aiming for his third win of the season at the Dell Technologies Match Play.

Thomas is another strong contender. He is riding high after winning The Players Championship on the 15th. DeChambeau’s form is formidable. Last year, he bulked up by gaining 18 kg and transformed into the biggest hitter on the PGA Tour, and in September, he immediately became a major champion by winning the US Open. During the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the 8th, he played a ‘1-on attempt’ across the lake on the par-5 16th hole (565 yards), playing a key role in the excitement of the event.

2019 champion Kevin Kisner (USA) is defending his title. He is a player particularly strong in match play, including being runner-up in 2018. He is grouped with Thomas, so passing the group stage is urgent. The tournament features 64 players divided into 16 groups, each playing 3 group matches like the World Cup in soccer, with the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16 to compete in a ‘survival game.’ Jason Day (Australia), winner in 2014 and 2016, has emerged as a dark horse.

Domestic fans are placing their hopes on Im Sung-jae. His consistency is powerful, having never missed a cut in 9 tournaments including a tie for 5th at the 2021 Sentry Tournament. He completed sufficient ‘warm-up’ by finishing tied for 8th in the Honda Classic title defense on the 22nd. Currently ranked 17th in the world, with Brooks Koepka (USA) absent, he is assigned as the No. 1 seed in Group 16, making advancement to the round of 16 not difficult. Kim Si-woo (26, CJ Logistics) faces the challenge of defeating the monster DeChambeau in Group 5.

Sungjae Im challenges for the WGC Series title at the Dell Technologies Match Play.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.