While we're just three days removed from the first World Golf Championship of the year, the second is just two weeks away. The WGC Dell Technologies Match Play starts on March 22nd, where the top 64 available players in the Official Golf World Ranking will go head-to-head at Austin Country Club.
Joost Luiten sits in the 64th spot in the ranking at the moment but it is Soren Kjeldsen that will be checking scores carefully over the weekend. He sits two spots back in 66th but with Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson expected to miss the Match Play, the last qualifying spot appears to be the one occupied by the Dane.
In total, 48 players tee it up this week with a mathematical chance of qualifying for Austin.
One of those is Australia's Scott Hend. The 2016 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner needs to finish in a two-way tie for sixth or better this week at the Hero Indian Open and is well aware of what is on the line this week.
“First things first, if I can get into the Match Play, then I might get a chance to get into the Masters," Hend told us. "Last week, I sort of ruined it for myself as I didn’t handle the course very well. There were a lot of world ranking points up for grabs there and I managed to get zero. If I can have a decent finish here and get into the match play, then possibly I can force my way into the Masters. I’m 69th right now I think. I haven’t seen what points are up for offer. I pretty much think a first will certainly get me there though!”
Whilst Anirban Lahiri, currently 74th in the world, needs a solo second finish he will be confident of his chances having notched a win and two runner-up finishes in the last three Hero Indian Opens. Like Hend, his goals lie further ahead than the Match Play.
“My primary target is obviously Augusta, but yes I would love to play Match Play. I played Austin Country Club last year and I really liked the golf course. I like the layout. But more than anything else I like ow I’m playing right now.
"You want to play all of these events when you are playing well. It’s one thing to be in the event and another to be there and playing well. I feel like my game is headed in that direction where I can trust my golf swing, I can trust my body and I can trust my eyes to see shots. So I think I have to finish first or second this week. So yes, I do have my eye on Match Play.”
The only other player in the field this week in India which a chance of earning a spot in Austin is Kiradech Aphibarnrat. The Thai sits 83rd in the world starting the week and needs to win to have any chance of earning his 11th WGC start.
Elsewhere in the world, European Tour members Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell and David Lingmerth will play in the Valspar Championship in Tampa, knowing that anything less than second play finish will prevent them from earning a place in the 64-man field in Austin.
