Austin Texas was the scene for the 2022 World Golf Championship – Dell Technologies Match Play. Dustin Johnson came into the week off a T9 finish at the Players Championship and a top 40 at the Valspar. With group play starting the week on Wednesday, it was a short practice week. Dustin has good history at Austin Country Club with a win here in the 2017 playing of the event.
Slotted in group 8, Dustin was going to face off against Max Homa, Matthew Wolff, and Mackenzie Hughes. Johnson got his week started against Canadian, Mackenzie Hughes, Wednesday afternoon. A slow front nine saw DJ make the turn 1-up. Thanks to a 422-yard drive on the 16th, Dustin closed him out to win 3&2. Thursday afternoon had Dustin against the young gun, Matthew Wolff. DJ was rolling early making the turn in 4-up. Wolff didn’t go away early, but thanks to an eagle on 16, DJ closed him out 4&2. Dustin, now at 2-0, would face Max Homa to move on. Max jumped out to an early lead, but DJ was able to win 3 of the last 4 on the front to make the turn with the lead. Back and forth on the inward 9, it all came down to 18. Thanks to a routine par, Dustin defeated Max Homa to go 3-0 in group play and move on to match play.
The Round of 16 began Saturday morning with Dustin matching up against Richard Bland. A back and forth between the two on the front, setup a great back nine. DJ closed out Bland on the 16th hole making that the 3rd match he won the 16th hole this week. The quarterfinals Saturday afternoon put DJ up against a familiar opponent, Brooks Koepka. Koepka was out to an early lead, but that did not phase DJ. Birdie on 11 got the match to even, and the birdie on 15 brought DJ to 1-up. He would go on to close the match on the 18th hole after he drove the green. Next up, Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler was the hottest player in the field heading into the match with DJ and it showed early on. Scottie got out to an early lead – taking the match to 5-up at one point. Dustin won 4-straight holes with 3 birdies in that stretch. However, Scottie would go on to win the 16th and 17th to bring DJ’s torrid run to an end.
A great week in Austin has Dustin Johnson primed and ready for his trip back to Augusta National Golf Club.
