Like a crescendo of music, golf offers ever more beautiful shows week after week. The appointment that begins today is with the match play world championship, a direct comparison between the best 64 players in the World Ranking. The competition, the Dell Match Play, which takes place in Austin, Texas, is one to follow for many reasons: because it is the second World Golf Championship, after the Cadillac in Miami and has a very high prize pool, equal to 9,5 million golf, 1,620 million just for the former; because it is a tournament common to both the American and European circuits and in order of importance it comes only after a major; because it's a special match, where the players don't compete with the field, but directly against each other, hole after hole; because it is a challenge between number one, from Jordan Spieth to Jason Day, from Rory McIlroy to Bubba Watson, from Rickie Fowler to Adam Scott; because it's a very long elimination match that starts today and ends on Sunday. In short, there are many reasons for following this close confrontation and among these it is worth remembering the fact that Rory McIlroy is the reigning champion, even if the Northern Irishman has not yet shown his best game this year.
Last week, after Jason Day's victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory climbed to third place in the world rankings and this week he will definitely want to catch up. However, golf is an unpredictable sport and the match play formula is the most bizarre, it doesn't reward those who complete 72 holes with the least number of strokes, but those who have the steadiest nerves to prevail over their direct opponent. “It's a matter of sprinting – says Rory – because you don't have much time to pick up the pace. A lot depends on the first 18 holes." The terrain will also be tested for the Ryder Cup: "whoever wins between a European and a North American, if there are challenges of this type, will certainly bring with him a psychological advantage for Ryder".
In short, it is an appointment to be enjoyed, in which, unfortunately, no Italian players participate. However, it should be noted that last week at Bay Hill Francesco Molinari (ninth) finally conquered a top ten and nibbled at three places in the World Ranking, climbing to 78th position.
The match play that Sky Sport will begin broadcasting this evening, guaranteeing important television coverage, is divided into 16 groups, of 4 players with as many seeded players: starting from Spieth to climb, then Day, Rory, Bubba, Fowler, Scott , Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Danny Willet, Branden Grace, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Louis Oosthuizen. Today, tomorrow and Friday the 64 players will play 32 match plays every day, so that everyone plays everyone else in individual groups (three matches). At the end of this tour de force, the top 16 will face off in single-elimination match play on Saturday; on the same day the eight survivors will advance to the quarterfinals. Great conclusion on Sunday with semi-finals and final.
Also on the Pga Tour, but in Puerto Rico, Renato Paratore will also make his debut, in the open that will be played starting Thursday at Coco Beach Golf & CC in Rio Grand. It is a competition for those who cannot access the important WGC, but still of a good standard, with three million dollars up for grabs, 540 of which for the winner. For the very young player from Rome it is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a very formative context. In fact, the field includes famous players such as Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Graham DeLaet, Brendon de Jonge, Retief Goosen, George Coetzee, Aaron Baddeley.
