By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
in Austin
Rory McIlroywill have to overcome a strong test in the group stages of the 2017 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after being handed a challenging draw in Austin, Texas.
The World Number Two, a winner of this event two years ago, will face AmericanGary Woodland– the man he defeated in the final in 2015, Argentina’sEmiliano Grilloand DaneSoren Kjeldsenover the first three days of play at Austin Country Club.
In a draw televised live from the Texas state capital on Monday evening, the 64-strong field was drawn randomly into 16 four-man groups, with each mini league containing one of the top 16 seeds, one player from seeds 17-32, one from 33-48 and one from seeds 49-64 based on Official World Golf Ranking positions.
Elsewhere, defending championJason Dayhas fellow Australian and last week’s winner on the US PGA Tour,Marc Leishman, plusLee Westwood– who is making his 17th appearance in the event this week – and AmericanPat Perez, while Race to Dubai leaderTommy Fleetwoodhas 2013 winnerMatt Kucharto contend with alongside former Masters ChampionZach Johnsonand AmericanBrendan Steele.
World Number OneDustin Johnson heads a Group 1 filled entirely with Major winners in reigning US PGA ChampionJimmy Walker, two-time Major victorMartin Kaymer and former US Open winnerWebb Simpson.
Meanwhile, in a mouth-watering Group 7, friends and compatriotsSergio GarciaandJon Rahmwill go head-to-head in a section completed by IrishmanShane Lowryand AmericanKevin Chappell, while four European Tour members will duke it out in Group 8 in World Number 11Alex Noren, Italy’sFrancesco Molinari, Austrian Bernd Wiesbergerand Thai aceThongchai Jaidee.
Ryder Cup team-matesMatt FitzpatrickandChris Woodboth feature in Group 6 alongside in-form AmericanJustin ThomasandKevin Na.
There will be 32 group stage matches on each of the first three days from Wednesday through to Friday with the top-placed player following three games progressing into the last 16 knockout stages to be played over Saturday and Sunday.
FULL LIST OF GROUPS (World Ranking in brackets)
GROUP 1:Dustin Johnson (1), Jimmy Walker (22), Martin Kaymer (46), Webb Simpson (64)
GROUP 2:Rory McIlroy (2), Emiliano Grillo (30), Gary Woodland (37), Soren Kjeldsen (68)
GROUP 3:Jason Day (3), Marc Leishman (32), Lee Westwood (49), Pat Perez (62)
GROUP 4:Hideki Matsuyama (4), Louis Oosthuizen (27), Ross Fisher (53), Jim Furyk (57)
GROUP 5:Jordan Spieth (6), Ryan Moore (36), Yuta Ikeda (41), Hideto Tanihara (60)
GROUP 6:Justin Thomas (7), Matt Fitzpatrick (31), Kevin Na (52), Chris Wood (55)
GROUP 7:Sergio Garcia (10), Jon Rahm (25), Kevin Chappell (42), Shane Lowry (59)
GROUP 8:Alex Noren (11), Francesco Molinari (29), Bernd Wiesberger (40), Thongchai Jaidee (63)
GROUP 9:Patrick Reed (12), Brooks Koepka (24), Kevin Kisner (38), Jason Dufner (65)
GROUP 10:Tyrrell Hatton (14), Rafa Cabrera-Bello (26), Jeunghun Wang (45), Charles Howell III (67)
GROUP 11:Danny Willett (15), Russell Knox (21), Bill Haas (47), K.T. Kim (70)
GROUP 12:Paul Casey (16), Charl Schwartzel (28), Ben An (51), Joost Luiten (66)
GROUP 13:Bubba Watson (17), Thomas Pieters (34), Scott Piercy (43), Jhonattan Vegas (61)
GROUP 14:Phil Mickelson (18), J.B. Holmes (35), Daniel Berger (39), Si Woo Kim (69)
GROUP 15:Branden Grace (19), Brandt Snedeker (23), William McGirt (54), Andy Sullivan (58)
GROUP 16:Matt Kuchar (20), Tommy Fleetwood (33), Zach Johnson (50), Brendan Steele (56)
