Draw of WGC Match-play groups: heavy for Victor Perez

64 players, five former champions and a Frenchman. With the exception of Justin Thomas, Justin Rose and eleven players from LIV Golf, the WGC Match-play field records all of the best players in the world. If there was therefore no easy table, Victor Perez (seeded n°51) was not spared from the draw either. The Frenchman was placed in the group of Collin Morikawa (n°9), Jason Day (n°32) and Adam Svensson (n°51), who is discovering the competition. The challenge for the native of Séméac? Reach the quarter-finals to enter the world top 50 and participate in the next Masters.

Double winner in major, Collin Morikawa is not necessarily the strongest player in match play. The American had finished 4th in his group in 2021 before going out in the round of 16 last year. On the other hand, Jason Day is a regular in the exercise. Indeed, the Australian is one of the three multiple winners of the competition. With two titles (2014, 2016), like Geoff Ogilvy, he is only beaten by Tiger Woods and his three victories. And the Tricolores remind him of good memories: in 2014, he beat Victor Dubuisson in the final.

Two other former winners on his way?

But Victor Perez is not left out. The 30-year-old had participated in the WGC Match-play in 2021. After coming out of his pool ahead of Marc Leishman, Russell Henley, Im Sung-jae, the Tarbais erased Robert MacIntyre (5 & 4) and Sergio Garcia (4 & 3) to reach the last square. Finally, the Habs obtained a good 4th place after their setbacks against Billy Horschel in the semi-finals (3&2) and Matt Kuchar in the small final (2&1). Should they qualify for the final draw, the Frenchman will face the group winner of Viktor Hovland, Chris Kirk, Si Woo Kim and Matt Kuchar. Before a quarter-final against Scottie Scheffler?

The American, world number 1, is also a formidable opponent in match play since he is simply the defending champion after a first final in 2021. His executioner Billy Horschel, Kevin Kisner (titled in 2020), Jason Day ( 2016, 2014), Rory McIlroy (2015), and Matt Kuchar (2013) will also be there. And Kevin Kisner finds himself perhaps in the densest group with Max Homa, Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Suh.