Revised Dell Match Play format is better

WGC Dell Match Play scoreboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/wgc-dell-technologies-match-play/leaderboard.html

Day 2 is underway in the Dell Match Play in windy Austin, Texas, and before I get to today's match ups, in a recent poll of the players, the majority interviewed said they understood why the "old lose and you go home, win and you go on" format ala' March Madness has been revised, but most said they preferred the way it was, some said it has lost it's edge, or drama.

Personally I am for the new format in which the first round of 32 matches in the group stage took place yesterday. The field of 64 players will play a round-robin format, with the 16 groups of four winners, advancing to the weekend’s single-elimination rounds.

My reason is simple, you get to see your favourites play at least until Saturday, so if they run up against a guy having a hot round on day one, they still have a chance to get through. Yesterday for example the little Dane Soren Kjeldsen beat Rory McIlroy and Hideto Tanimara beat an out of sorts Jordan Spieth, which of those four do you want to watch on the weekend ?

Years ago in 2009 I recall Judy Rankin was nearly apoplectic interviewing Tiger at greenside after he bowed out in the first round, as she and the rest of the crew saw the ratings nosedive, as Geoff Ogilvy went on to beat Paul Casey 4&3 in the final in front of friends and family.

Other finals like Jeff Maggert vs Andrew Magee, Steve Stricker vs Pierre Fulke or Kevin Sutherland vs Scott McCarron were ensuring this event was not going to be on the schedule for long and to be honest guys like Monty or Adam Scott were not all that keen flying half way around the world to the Arizona desert to lose 6&5 before heading right back to the airport.

This revised way gives the great players fans want to see, a better chance, and I don't buy the lack of drama theory, there is plenty of drama come Friday when all 16 groups will be decided. Also fans get a chance to see some of the lesser known stars from other countries over a few days, like Si Woo Kim from Korea for example.

Day two of the round robin is available by clicking on my link above. There are no Canadians in the field.

Bryan Angus