'Hulk' DeChambeau's Return "Match King GO"... What About '21st Seed' Im Sungjae?

Dell Technologies Match Play Opens Night of 23rd, 64 Players in 16 Groups Compete Through 3 Preliminary Rounds, Group Winners Advance to Round of 16 'Survival Battle'

'Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau challenges the 'Match King' at the Dell Technologies Match Play.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Texas Duel’.

The return of ‘The Hulk’ Bryson DeChambeau. The World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Dell Technologies Match Play, opening on the night of the 23rd (Korean time) at Austin Golf Club in Texas, USA (par 71, 7,108 yards), is the largest-scale match play event in the global golf world. Billy Horschel is defending his title, and last year’s runner-up Scottie Scheffler (both from the USA) is aiming for revenge. World stars including world No. 1 Jon Rahm (Spain) have all gathered.

DeChambeau skipped seven PGA Tour events after missing the cut at the Farmers Open in January. It is noteworthy that the Arnold Palmer Invitational was his title defense, and The Players Championship is called the ‘fifth major.’ On the surface, a wrist injury during the Asian Tour PIF Saudi International on the 4th of last month was the reason. During this period, there were even rumors of a secret $135 million (1.64 trillion KRW) contract to join the Super Golf League (SGL) led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

This added to his internal conflicts. Eventually, with the PGA Tour’s tough stance of "expulsion if participating in the SGL," the issue subsided. It is interesting that DeChambeau is particularly strong in match play. In 2015, he caused a sensation by winning both the NCAA Division I Championship and the US Amateur simultaneously, and with his US Open victory in September 2020, he joined the exclusive group of only three players?including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods?who have won all three major titles.

Billy Horschel has stepped up to defend his title at the Dell Technologies Match Play.

The tournament features 64 players divided into 16 groups, with three preliminary rounds like the World Cup soccer format, and the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16 to compete again in a ‘survival game’ format. Since only the top 64 ranked players participate, there are plenty of title contenders. The ‘return match’ between Horschel and Scheffler is the first key point to watch. Horschel recalls the thrilling memory of advancing to the round of 16 last year with a 2-1 record and then consecutively defeating Kevin Streelman (USA), Tommy Fleetwood (England), Victor Perez (France), and Scheffler.

‘Number 2’ Collin Morikawa (USA), Viktor Hovland (Norway), and ‘Playoff (PO) Champion’ Patrick Cantlay have joined the competition for the title. The list of past champions is impressive, including Dustin Johnson in 2017, Bubba Watson in 2018, and Kevin Kisner in 2019 (all from the USA). Johnson’s 2017 victory, marked by a record seven consecutive wins, is known as the ‘Promised Land.’ Korea is represented by ‘Shriners Champion’ Im Sung-jae (24, 21st seed) and Kim Si-woo (27, 48th seed). Im Sung-jae missed advancing to the round of 16 last year with a 1-2 record. He is revisiting the winning formula of narrowly defeating Russell Henley (USA) by one hole on the first day.

'Shriners Champs' Im Sung-jae will compete in the Dell Technologies Match Play.

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