WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play format: Round robin groups, matches, points, brackets

The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play format is unique in golf because it's not only the rare match-play event in professional golf, but it's an individual match-play event with a round-robin group component designed to help preserve the best players in the tournament from being eliminated in a potential fluke loss in the first three days of the event.

The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play format changed in 2016, going from a 64-player, single-elimination, bracket-style tournament to a 64-player event beginning with 16 groups of round-robin play leading to 16 group winners who advance into a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament to determine a winner.

For the first three days of the tournament, Wednesday through Friday, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play is concerned with matches inside 16 groups, each anchored by one of the top 16 highest-seeded players in the event based on this week's Official World Golf Ranking. From there, players are selected at random from three subsequent groups of the next 16 highest-ranked players to fill out groups. In these 16 groups of four, round-robin play continues for the first three days, with each player getting an 18-hole match against each player in their group.

In these 18-hole matches, three outcomes are possible: win, loss or 18-hole tie. If a player wins a match, they get a point. If they lose the match, they don't get a point. If they tie or halve the match, they and their opponent each get a half-point. In the final day of round-robin play on Friday, matches which determine the group winner. If players are tied for the lead in a group after round robin play, a sudden-death playoff begins on the first hole as soon as possible.

The winners of each group then advance into a single-elimination, bracket-style competition on Saturday with 18-hole matches:

Group 1 winner vs. Group 16 winner
Group 8 winner vs. Group 9 winner
Group 4 winner vs. Group 13 winner
Group 5 winner vs. Group 12 winner
Group 6 winner vs. Group 11 winner
Group 3 winner vs. Group 14 winner
Group 7 winner vs. Group 10 winner
Group 2 winner vs. Group 15 winner

There must be a winner in each of these matches. From there, the bracket takes over, determining next matchups until a champion is crowned on Sunday afternoon in an 18-hole finish, and a third- and fourth-place finisher is decided by a consolation match.

2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play groups

Group 1: (1) Dustin Johnson, (32) Kevin Kisner, (38) Adam Hadwin, (52) Bernd Wiesberger
Group 2: (2) Justin Thomas, (21) Francesco Molinari, (48) Patton Kizzire, (60) Luke List
Group 3: (3) Jon Rahm, (28) Kiradech Aphibarnrat, (43) Chez Reavie, (63) Keegan Bradley
Group 4: (4) Jordan Spieth, (19) Patrick Reed, (34) Haotong Li, (49) Charl Schwartzel
Group 5: (5) Hideki Matsuyama, (30) Patrick Cantlay, (46) Cameron Smith, (53) Yusaku Miyazato
Group 6: (6) Rory McIlroy, (18) Brian Harman, (44) Jhonattan Vegas, (51) Peter Uihlein
Group 7: (7) Sergio Garcia, (20) Xander Schauffele, (41) Dylan Frittelli, (62) Shubankhar Sharma
Group 8: (8) Jason Day, (25) Louis Oosthuizen, (42) Jason Dufner, (56) James Hahn
Group 9: (9) Tommy Fleetwood, (26) Daniel Berger, (33) Kevin Chappell, (58) Ian Poulter
Group 10: (10) Paul Casey, (31) Matthew Fitzpatrick, (45) Kyle Stanley, (51) Russell Henley
Group 11: (11) Marc Leishman, (23) Branden Grace, (35) Bubba Watson, (64) Julian Suri
Group 12: (12) Tyrrell Hatton, (22) Charley Hoffman, (36) Brendan Steele, (55) Alexander Levy
Group 13: (13) Alex Noren, (29) Tony Finau, (39) Thomas Pieters, (61) Kevin Na
Group 14: (14) Phil Mickelson, (17) Rafael Cabrera-Bello, (40) Sotashi Kodaira, (59) Charles Howell III
Group 15: (15) Pat Perez, (24) Gary Woodland, (37) Webb Simpson, (50) Si Woo Kim
Group 16: (16) Matt Kuchar, (27) Ross Fisher, (47) Yuta Ikeda, (54) Zach Johnson

2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Wednesday match results

Group 15: Pat Perez (15) halved vs. Si Woo Kim (50)
Group 15: Gary Woodland (24) halved vs. Webb Simpson (37)
Group 2: Justin Thomas (2) wins 2 up vs. Luke List (60)
Group 2: Francesco Molinari (21) wins 3 and 1 vs. Patton Kizzire (48)
Group 12: Tyrrell Hatton (12) wins 3 and 2 vs. Alexander Levy (55)
Group 12: Brendan Steele (36) wins 1 up vs. Charley Hoffman (22)
Group 5: Hideki Matsuyama (5) wins 2 and 1 vs. Yusaku Miyazato (53)
Group 5: Cameron Smith (46) wins 2 up vs. Patrick Cantlay (30)
Group 13: Alex Noren (13) wins 4 and 2 vs. Kevin Na (61)
Group 13: Tony Finau (29) wins 2 and 1 vs. Thomas Pieters (39)
Group 4: Jordan Spieth (4) wins 2 and 1 vs. Charl Schwartzel (49)
Group 4: Patrick Reed (19) wins 3 and 2 vs. HaoTong Li (34)
Group 9: Ian Poulter (58) wins 3 and 2 vs. Tommy Fleetwood (9)
Group 9: Kevin Chappell (33) wins 3 and 2 vs. Daniel Berger (26)
Group 8: Jason Day (8) wins 4 and 2 vs. James Hahn (56)
Group 8: Louis Oosthuizen (25) wins 1 up vs. Jason Dufner (42)
Group 16: Matt Kuchar (16) halved vs. Zach Johnson (54)
Group 16: Yuta Ikeda wins 2 and 1 vs. Ross Fisher (27)
Group 1: Bernd Wiesberger (52) wins 3 and 1 vs. Dustin Johnson (1)
Group 1: Kevin Kisner (32) halved vs. Adam Hadwin (38)
Group 11: Julian Suri (64) wins 3 and 2 vs. Marc Leishman (11)
Group 11: Bubba Watson (35) wins 5 and 3 vs. Branden Grace (23)
Group 6: Peter Uihlein (57) wins 2 and 1 vs. Rory McIlroy (6)
Group 6: Brian Harman (18) halved vs. Jhonattan Vegas (44)
Group 14: Charles Howell III (59) wins 3 and 2 vs. Phil Mickelson (14)
Group 14: Rafa Cabrera Bello (17) wins 2 and 1 vs. Satoshi Kodaira (40)
Group 3: Jon Rahm (3) halved vs. Keegan Bradley (63)
Group 3: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28) wins 3 and 2 vs. Chez Reavie (43)
Group 10: Paul Casey (10) wins 1 up vs. Russell Henley (51)
Group 10: Kyle Stanley (45) wins 1 up vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick (31)
Group 7: Sergio Garcia (7) wins 1 up vs. Shubhankar Sharma (62)
Group 7: Xander Schauffele (20) wins 1 up vs. Dylan Frittelli (41)

2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Thursday match results

Group 13: Alex Noren (13) wins 5 and 4 vs. Thomas Pieters (39)
Group 13: Tony Finau (29) wins 3 and 2 vs. Kevin Na (61)
Group 4: Jordan Spieth (4) wins 4 and 2 vs. HaoTong Li (34)
Group 4: Patrick Reed (19) wins 1 up vs. Charl Schwartzel (49)
Group 9: Tommy Fleetwood (9) wins 7 and 6 vs. Kevin Chappell (33)
Group 9: Ian Poulter (58) wins 2 and 1 vs. Daniel Berger (26)
Group 8: Jason Dufner (42) wins 3 and 1 vs. Jason Day (8)
Group 8: James Hahn (56) wins 3 and 1 vs. Louis Oosthuizen (25)
Group 16: Matt Kuchar (16) wins 1 up vs. Yuta Ikeda (47)
Group 16: Ross Fisher (27) wins 2 up vs. Zach Johnson (54)
Group 1: Adam Hadwin (38) wins 4 and 3 vs. Dustin Johnson (1)
Group 1: Kevin Kisner (32) wins 5 and 4 vs. Bernd Wiesberger (52)
Group 11: Bubba Watson (35) wins 3 and 2 vs. Marc Leishman (11)
Group 11: Branden Grace (23) wins 2 and 1 vs. Julian Suri (64)
Group 6: Rory McIlroy (6) wins 2 and 1 vs. Jhonattan Vegas (44)
Group 6: Brian Harman (18) wins 3 and 2 vs. Peter Uihlein (57)
Group 14: Phil Mickelson (14) wins 1 up vs. Satoshi Kodaira (40)
Group 14: Charles Howell III (59) wins 3 and 1 vs. Rafa Cabrera Bello (17)
Group 3: Chez Reavie (43) wins 1 up vs. Jon Rahm (3)
Group 3: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28) wins 1 up vs. Keegan Bradley (63)
Group 10: Paul Casey (10) wins 4 and 2 vs. Kyle Stanley (45)
Group 10: Russell Henley (51) wins 2 and 1 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick (31)
Group 7: Sergio Garcia (7) wins 2 up vs. Dylan Frittelli (41)
Group 7: Xander Schauffele (20) wins 3 and 1 vs. Shubhankar Sharma (62)
Group 15: Webb Simpson (37) wins 2 and 1 vs. Pat Perez (15)
Group 15: Si Woo Kim (50) wins 5 and 3 vs. Gary Woodland (24)
Group 2: Justin Thomas (2) wins 3 and 1 vs. Patton Kizzire (48)
Group 2: Francesco Molinari (21) wins 3 and 2 vs. Luke List (60)
Group 12: Tyrrell Hatton (12) wins 3 and 2 vs. Brendan Steele (36)
Group 12: Alexander Levy (55) wins 1 up vs. Charley Hoffman (22)
Group 5: Cameron Smith (46) wins 1 up vs. Hideki Matsuyama (5)
Group 5: Patrick Cantlay (30) wins 1 up vs. Yusaku Miyazato (53)

2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Friday match results

Group 11: Marc Leishman (11) halved vs. Branden Grace (23)
Group 11: Bubba Watson (35) halved vs. Julian Suri (64)
Group 6: Brian Harman (18) wins 5 and 3 vs. Rory McIlroy (6)
Group 6: Peter Uihlein (57) wins 4 and 3 vs. Jhonattan Vegas (44)
Group 14: Phil Mickelson (14) wins 1 up vs. Rafa Cabrera Bello (17)
Group 14: Charles Howell III (59) wins 2 and 1 vs. Satoshi Kodaira (40)
Group 3: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28) wins 4 and 3 vs. Jon Rahm (3)
Group 3: Chez Reavie (43) halved vs. Keegan Bradley (63)
Group 10: Matthew Fitzpatrick (31) wins 3 and 2 vs. Paul Casey (10)
Group 10: Kyle Stanley (45) wins 1 up vs. Russell Henley (51)
Group 7: Sergio Garcia (7) wins 3 and 1 vs. Xander Schauffele (20)
Group 7: Dylan Frittelli (41) wins 1 up vs. Shubhankar Sharma (62)
Group 15: Gary Woodland (24) wins 1 up vs. Pat Perez (15)
Group 15: Si Woo Kim (50) wins 2 up vs. Webb Simpson (37)
Group 2: Justin Thomas (2) wins 7 and 5 vs. Francesco Molinari (21)
Group 2: Patton Kizzire (48) wins 4 and 2 vs. Luke List (60)
Group 12: Charley Hoffman (22) wins 3 and 2 vs. Tyrrell Hatton (12)
Group 12: Brendan Steele (36) wins 3 and 1 vs. Alexander Levy (55)
Group 5: Patrick Cantlay (30) wins 4 and 3 vs. Hideki Matsuyama (5)
Group 5: Cameron Smith (46) halved vs. Yusaku Miyazato (53)
Group 13: Alex Noren (13) wins 1 up vs. Tony Finau (29)
Group 13: Thomas Pieters (39) halved vs. Kevin Na (61)
Group 4: Patrick Reed (19) wins 2 and 1 vs. Jordan Spieth (4)
Group 4: Charl Schwartzel (49) wins 3 and 2 vs. HaoTong Li (34)
Group 9: Tommy Fleetwood (9) wins 2 and 1 vs. Daniel Berger (26)
Group 9: Kevin Chappell (33) concedes to Ian Poulter (58)
Group 8: Louis Oosthuizen (25) wins 2 up vs. Jason Day (8)
Group 8: Jason Dufner (42) wins 3 and 2 vs. James Hahn (56)
Group 16: Matt Kuchar (16) wins 6 and 4 vs. Ross Fisher (27)
Group 16: Yuta Ikeda (47) halved vs. Zach Johnson (54)
Group 1: Kevin Kisner (32) wins 4 and 3 vs. Dustin Johnson (1)
Group 1: Adam Hadwin (38) halved vs. Bernd Wiesberger (52)

2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Final group standings

Group 15: Si Woo Kim: 2.5 points, Webb Simpson: 1.5 points, Gary Woodland: 1.5 points, Pat Perez: 0.5 points
Group 2: Justin Thomas: 3 points, Francesco Molinari: 2 points, Patton Kizzire: 1 point, Luke List: 0 points
Group 12: Tyrrell Hatton: 2 points (playoff), Brendan Steele: 2 points, Alexander Levy: 1 point, Charley Hoffman: 1 point
Group 5: Cameron Smith: 3 points, Patrick Cantlay: 2 point, Hideki Matsuyama: 1 point, Yusaku Miyazato: 0 points
Group 13: Alex Noren: 3 points, Tony Finau: 2 points, Kevin Na: 0.5 points, Thomas Pieters: 0.5 points
Group 4: Patrick Reed: 3 points, Jordan Spieth: 2 points, Charl Schwartzel: 1 point, Haotong Li: 0 points
Group 9: Ian Poulter: 3 points, Tommy Fleetwood: 2 points, Kevin Chappell: 1 point, Daniel Berger: 0 points
Group 8: Louis Oosthuizen: 2 points (playoff), Jason Dufner: 2 points, Jason Day: 1 point, James Hahn: 1 points
Group 16: Matt Kuchar: 2.5 points, Yuta Ikeda: 1.5 points, Ross Fisher: 1 point, Zach Johnson: 1 point
Group 1: Kevin Kisner: 2.5 points, Adam Hadwin: 2 points, Bernd Wiesberger: 1.5 points, Dustin Johnson: 0 points
Group 11: Bubba Watson: 2.5 points, Branden Grace: 1.5 points, Julian Suri: 1.5 points, Marc Leishman: 0.5 points
Group 6: Brian Harman: 2.5 points, Peter Uihlein: 2 point, Rory McIlroy: 1 point, Jhonattan Vegas: 0.5 points
Group 14: Charles Howell III: 3 points, Phil Mickelson: 2 points, Rafa Cabrera Bello: 1 point, Satoshi Kodaira: 0 points
Group 3: Kiradech Aphibarnrat: 3 points, Chez Reavie: 1.5 points, Keegan Bradley: 1 point, Jon Rahm: 0.5 points
Group 10: Kyle Stanley: 2 points (playoff), Paul Casey: 2 points, Russell Henley: 1 point, Matt Fitzpatrick: 1 point
Group 7: Sergio Garcia: 3 points, Xander Schauffele: 2 points, Dylan Frittelli: 1 point, Shubanhkar Sharma: 0 points

2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Knockout match results

Round of 16

Kevin Kisner wins 1 up vs. Matt Kuchar
Ian Poulter wins 2 and 1 vs. Louis Oosthuizen
Cameron Smith wins 2 and 1 vs. Tyrrell Hatton
Alex Noren wins 5 and 3 vs. Patrick Reed
Bubba Watson wins 2 and 1 vs. Brian Harman
Kiradech Aphibarnrat wins 1 up vs. Charles Howell III
Kyle Stanley wins 3 and 1 vs. Sergio Garcia
Justin Thomas wins 7 and 5 vs. Si Woo Kim

Quarterfinals

Kevin Kisner wins 8 and 6 vs. Ian Poulter
Alex Noren wins 4 and 2 vs. Cameron Smith
Bubba Watson wins 5 and 3 vs. Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Justin Thomas wins 2 and 1 vs. Kyle Stanley

Semifinal matches

Kevin Kisner wins in 19 holes vs. Alex Noren
Bubba Watson wins 3 and 2 vs. Justin Thomas

Consolation

Alex Noren wins 5 and 3 vs. Justin Thomas

Final

Bubba Watson wins 7 and 6 vs. Kevin Kisner