Kevin Kisner wins WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 1 April 2019

Kevin Kisner of the USA defeated his countryman Matt Kuchar by 3&2 in the final of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at the Austin Country Club in Texas.

Kevin Kisner wins WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play

Kevin Kisner claimed his first World Golf Championship Title at Austin CC in Texas. He beat Matt Kuchar to win the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

After beating 2018 Open champion Francesco Molinari in a tight semi-final, Kisner got off to a flying start in the final, taking the first hole with a birdie.

Kuchar got back on terms through the 5th but Kisner restored his lead with an unlikely birdie on the 6th. He moved further ahead through seven and, although Kuchar responded to move back within one through nine holes, Kisner pulled away again on the back nine to take the title on the 16th. After losing to Bubba Watson by 7&6 in the final last year, Kisner was delighted to come back and get the win.

"It's a big week, a long weekend. Gruelling, not only from the mental side, but the physical side too,” said the 35-year-old.

“It's a lot of golf and a lot of stressful holes and stressful putts but I was able to prevail and had a great week. I love Austin Country Club, love Austin, Texas, and love being out here. Last year I felt like I rushed around to get ready to play in the second match. I ran around and ate really fast, ran back out. I tried to go through my whole normal routine in an hour to get ready, and that's just not feasible. I hung out, took a shower, chilled out, got some treatment on my body and went to the range at 2:05pm, and teed off at 2:25pm. I just went and hit 20 balls and went to the tee. I think that greatly helped my mental side of the game as much as anything. I wasn't over hyped for it and just tried to go and play a casual round of golf."

In the third place match, Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari led by two holes over Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregard at the turn after carding four birdies on the front nine. And he continued to dominate as the European pair made their way down the stretch, winning the 10th and 12th to go four-up. Bjerregaard pulled one back on the 13th but Molinari wasn’t fazed, he won the 16th to secure a 4&2 win.

WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Austin CC, Austin, Texas 27-31 March Purse: $10,250,000 Par: 72

1 Kevin Kisner (USA) 2 Matt Kuchar (USA) 3 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 4 Lucas Bjerregaard (Den) T5 Sergio Garcia (Esp) T5 Kevin Na (USA) T5 Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) T5 Tiger Woods (USA)

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

TOPICS

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter