2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play explained

2015 WGC-Cadillac
Match Play
Dates:April 29 – May 3, 2015
Course:TPC Harding Park
Tour:PGA Tour
European Tour
Par:71
Field:64 players
Format:Match play – 18 holes
Purse:$9,250,000
€8,487,016
Winners Share:$1,570,000
€1,440,499
Champion: Rory McIlroy
Score:def. Gary Woodland, 4 & 2
Previous:2014
Next:2016

The 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play was the 17th WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship, played April 29 – May 3 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California. It was the second of four World Golf Championships in 2015. Top-ranked Rory McIlroy defeated Gary Woodland in the final, for his second win in a WGC event, after his win in the 2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.[1]

On September 30, 2014, Cadillac was announced as the new title sponsor.[2]

Field

The field consisted of the top 64 players available from the Official World Golf Ranking on April 19. However, the seedings were based on the World Rankings on April 26.[3]

Luke Donald (ranked 50 on April 19, personal reasons),[4] Tim Clark (ranked 57, injury),[4] and Phil Mickelson (ranked 18, personal reasons)[5] did not compete, allowing entry for Miguel Ángel Jiménez (ranked 65), Francesco Molinari (ranked 66), and Mikko Ilonen (ranked 67).

Two players made their WGC debut: Andy Sullivan and Ben Martin.

Format

A new format was introduced in 2015. Previously, the Championship was a single elimination match play event. Beginning in 2015, the championship started with pool play, with 16 groups of four players playing round-robin matches, on Wednesday through Friday. There are no halved matches in pool play with extra holes played to determine the winner. The top 16 seeded players were allocated to the 16 groups, one in each group. The remaining 48 players were placed into three pools (seeds 17–32, seeds 33–48, seeds 49–64). Each group had one player randomly selected from each pool to complete the group.[6]

The winners of each group advanced to a single-elimination bracket on the weekend, with the round of 16 and quarterfinals on Saturday, and the semi-finals, finals, and consolation match on Sunday.[7] If two players are tied at the top of the group, the result of their head-to-head match determines the group winner. If three players are tied, the winner is determined by a sudden-death playoff.

Top 16 seeds!Seed and Rank !! Player
1
2
3 Henrik Stenson
4
5
6 Justin Rose
7 Jason Day
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Pool 1!Seed!!Rank!!Player
17 17 Martin Kaymer
18 19 Billy Horschel
19 20 Brooks Koepka
20 21 Kevin Na
21 22 Victor Dubuisson
22 23 Ryan Palmer
23 24 Bill Haas
24 25 Zach Johnson
25 26 Chris Kirk
26 27 Lee Westwood
27 28 Ian Poulter
28 29 Ryan Moore
29 30 Louis Oosthuizen
30 31 Jamie Donaldson
31 32 Hunter Mahan
32 33 Graeme McDowell
Pool 2! Seed !! Rank !! Player
33 34 Keegan Bradley
34 35 Anirban Lahiri
35 36 Brandt Snedeker
36 37 Paul Casey
37 38 Charl Schwartzel
38 39 Branden Grace
39 40 Bernd Wiesberger
40 41 Matt Every
41 42 Stephen Gallacher
42 43 Brendon Todd
43 44 Joost Luiten
44 45 Thongchai Jaidee
45 46 Russell Henley
46 47 Webb Simpson
47 48 Shane Lowry
48 49 Danny Willett
Pool 3!Seed!!Rank!!Player
49 50 Charley Hoffman
50 52 Gary Woodland
51 53 Marc Warren
52 54 Alexander Lévy
53 56 Jason Dufner
54 57 Tommy Fleetwood
55 58 Harris English
56 60 Marc Leishman
57 61 Andy Sullivan
58 63 Matt Jones
59 64 George Coetzee
60 65 John Senden
61 67 Ben Martin
62 68 Mikko Ilonen
63 69 Miguel Ángel Jiménez
64 70 Francesco Molinari
Rank – Official World Golf Ranking on April 26, 2015.

Results

Pool play

Players were divided into 16 groups of four players and played round-robin matches on Wednesday to Friday.

Notes: Round 1

Of the 32 matches played, 14 were "upsets" with the lower seeded player beating the higher seeded player. These included #3 Henrik Stenson (lost to #60 John Senden), #6 Justin Rose (lost to #56 Marc Leishman), #7 Jason Day (lost to #49 Charley Hoffman), and #9 Adam Scott (lost to #64 Francesco Molinari).[8]

Notes: Round 2

Of the 32 matches played, 16 were upsets. These included #5 Jim Furyk (lost to #44 Thongchai Jaidee), #7 Day (lost to #38 Branden Grace), #8 Dustin Johnson (lost to #37 Charl Schwartzel), #9 Scott (lost to #36 Paul Casey), and #10 Sergio García (lost to #39 Bernd Wiesberger). Two players, #13 Rickie Fowler and #60 John Senden, were guaranteed to advance.[9] [10]

Notes: Round 3

Of the 32 matches played, 18 were upsets. These included #2 Jordan Spieth (lost to #26 Lee Westwood), #3 Stenson (lost to #23 Bill Haas), #4 Bubba Watson (lost to #29 Louis Oosthuizen), #7 Day (lost to #24 Zach Johnson), #9 Scott (lost to #25 Chris Kirk), and #10 García (lost to #30 Jamie Donaldson). Day, Scott and Jimmy Walker were the only top seeds to lose all three matches. Only five of the top seeds advanced: #1 Rory McIlroy, #5 Furyk, #12 J. B. Holmes, #13 Fowler, and #16 Hideki Matsuyama. 12 of the 16 group winners advanced with perfect 3–0 records. Three groups winners advanced based on head-to-head tie-breaker and one group went to a three-way sudden-death playoff. Branden Grace defeated Zach Johnson and Charley Hoffman on the third extra hole in group 7. In Group 11, all six matches of the three rounds were upsets. A total of 18 of the 96 matches went extra holes, causing some to suggest altering the format next year to include halved matches.[11] [12]

Group 1! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 McIlroy 5 & 4 Dufner
Horschel 5 & 4 Snedeker
align=center rowspan=22 McIlroy 2 up Snedeker
Horschel 3 & 2 Dufner
align=center rowspan=23 McIlroy 20 h Horschel
Dufner 1 up Snedeker
Seed Player W L Finish
1 3 0 1
18 2 1 2
53 1 2 3
35 0 3 4
Group 2! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Spieth 4 & 2 Ilonen
Westwood 1 up Every
align=center rowspan=22 Spieth 4 & 3 Every
Westwood 1 up Ilonen
align=center rowspan=23 Westwood 1 up Spieth
Ilonen 8 & 6 Every
Seed Player W L Finish
26 3 0 1
2 2 1 2
62 1 2 3
40 0 3 4
Group 3! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Senden 19 h Stenson
Haas 3 & 2 Todd
align=center rowspan=22 Stenson 3 & 2 Todd
Senden 4 & 3 Haas
align=center rowspan=23 Haas 3 & 1 Stenson
Senden 1 up Todd
Seed Player W L Finish
60 3 0 1
23 2 1 2
3 1 2 3
42 0 3 4
Group 4! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Watson 5 & 4 Jiménez
Oosthuizen 6 & 5 Bradley
align=center rowspan=22 Watson 4 & 2 Bradley
Oosthuizen 2 up Jiménez
align=center rowspan=23 Oosthuizen 19 h Watson
Jiménez 2 up Bradley
Seed Player W L Finish
29 3 0 1
4 2 1 2
63 1 2 3
33 0 3 4
Group 5! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Furyk 3 & 2 Coetzee
Kaymer 3 & 1 Jaidee
align=center rowspan=22 Jaidee 3 & 1 Furyk
Coetzee 19 h Kaymer
align=center rowspan=23 Furyk 20 h Kaymer
Coetzee 21 h Jaidee
Seed Player W L Finish
5 2 1 1
59 2 1 2
17 1 2 T3
44 1 2
Group 6! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Leishman 3 & 2 Rose
Lahiri 4 & 2 Palmer
align=center rowspan=22 Rose 19 h Lahiri
Leishman 4 & 3 Palmer
align=center rowspan=23 Rose 2 & 1 Palmer
Leishman 1 up Lahiri
Seed Player W L Finish
56 3 0 1
6 2 1 2
34 1 2 3
22 0 3 4
Group 7! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Hoffman 4 & 3 Day
Z. Johnson 2 up Grace
align=center rowspan=22 Grace 4 & 3 Day
Hoffman 2 & 1 Z. Johnson
align=center rowspan=23 Z. Johnson 3 & 2 Day
Grace 2 & 1 Hoffman
Seed Player W L Finish
38 2 1 1
24 2 1 T2
49 2 1
7 0 3 4
Grace won sudden-death playoff with a birdie on the third hole.
Group 8! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 D. Johnson 3 & 1 Jones
Schwartzel 5 & 4 Dubuisson
align=center rowspan=22 Schwartzel 20 h D. Johnson
Jones 2 up Dubuisson
align=center rowspan=23 D. Johnson 2 & 1 Dubuisson
Schwartzel 20 h Jones
Seed Player W L Finish
37 3 0 1
8 2 1 2
58 1 2 3
21 0 3 4
Group 9! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Molinari 5 & 4 Scott
Casey 22 h Kirk
align=center rowspan=22 Casey 1 up Scott
Kirk 2 & 1 Molinari
align=center rowspan=23 Kirk 1 up Scott
Casey 1 up Molinari
Seed Player W L Finish
36 3 0 1
25 2 1 2
64 1 2 3
9 0 3 4
Group 10! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 García 2 up Fleetwood
Donaldson 1 up Wiesberger
align=center rowspan=22 Wiesberger 2 & 1 García
Fleetwood 21 h Donaldson
align=center rowspan=23 Donaldson 2 & 1 García
Fleetwood 19 h Wiesberger
Seed Player W L Finish
54 2 1 1
30 2 1 2
39 1 2 T3
10 1 2
Group 11! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Woodland 19 h Walker
Simpson 3 & 2 Poulter
align=center rowspan=22 Simpson19 h Walker
Woodland 3 & 2 Poulter
align=center rowspan=23 Poulter 4 & 2 Walker
Woodland 1 up Simpson
Seed Player W L Finish
50 3 0 1
46 2 1 2
27 1 2 3
11 0 3 4
Group 12! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Warren 2 & 1 Holmes
Koepka 1 up Henley
align=center rowspan=22 Holmes 19 h Henley
Koepka 20 h Warren
align=center rowspan=23 Holmes 2 & 1 Koepka
Henley 1 up Warren
Seed Player W L Finish
12 2 1 1
19 2 1 2
45 1 2 T3
51 1 2
Group 13! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Fowler 1 up English
Lowry 1 up McDowell
align=center rowspan=22 Fowler 1 up Lowry
English 2 & 1 McDowell
align=center rowspan=23 Fowler 5 & 4 McDowell
English 1 up Lowry
Seed Player W L Finish
13 3 0 1
55 2 1 2
47 1 2 3
32 0 3 4
Group 14! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Martin 1 up Kuchar
Mahan 7 & 6 Gallacher
align=center rowspan=22 Kuchar3 & 2 Gallacher
Mahan 5 & 3 Martin
align=center rowspan=23 Mahan 5 & 4 Kuchar
Martin 20 h Gallacher
Seed Player W L Finish
31 3 0 1
61 2 1 2
14 1 2 3
41 0 3 4
Group 15! Round !!Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Reed 2 & 1 Sullivan
Willett 3 & 2 Moore
align=center rowspan=22 Willett 2 & 1 Reed
Sullivan 3 & 2 Moore
align=center rowspan=23 Reed 1 up Moore
Willett 1 up Sullivan
Seed Player W L Finish
48 3 0 1
15 2 1 2
57 1 2 3
28 0 3 4
Group 16! Round !! Winner !! Score !! Loser
align=center rowspan=21 Matsuyama 5 & 4 Lévy
Luiten 19 h Na
align=center rowspan=22 Matsuyama 2 up Luiten
Na 3 & 1 Lévy
align=center rowspan=23 Matsuyama 5 & 4 Na
Luiten 1 up Lévy
Seed Player W L Finish
16 3 0 1
43 2 1 2
20 1 2 3
52 0 3 4

Final 16 bracket

The match between Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey was completed on May 3 having been all square after 21 holes when it became too dark to continue.

Prize money breakdown

Place Description US ($)
1 Champion 1,570,000
2 Runner-up 930,000
3 Third place 646,000
4 Fourth place 520,000
T5 Losing quarter-finalists x 4 285,000
T9 Losing round of 16 x 8 150,000
T17 Those with 2–1 record in pool play x 17 85,824
T34 Those with 1–2 record in pool play x 18 63,500
T52 Those with 0–3 record in pool play x 13 49,385
Total 9,250,000

External links

37.724°N -122.493°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Rory McIlroy wins WGC Match Play by beating Gary Woodland . May 3, 2015 . BBC Sport . May 15, 2015.
  2. News: Cadillac new title sponsor of WGC-Match Play . PGA Tour . September 30, 2014.
  3. Web site: Mickelson withdraws from WGC-Cadillac Match Play . PGA Tour . April 26, 2015.
  4. News: Tim Clark (elbow) withdraws from Match Play Championship . ESPN . Associated Press . April 23, 2015.
  5. News: Phil Mickelson pulls out of Match Play, cites personal reasons . ESPN . Jason . Sobel . April 27, 2015.
  6. Web site: WGC-Cadillac Match Play's new drawing process . PGA Tour . March 18, 2015.
  7. News: Match Play gets new format for '15 . ESPN . Associated Press . July 2, 2014.
  8. Web site: Jordan Spieth handles Mikko Ilonen to advance in WGC-Cadillac Match Play . ESPN . Bob . Harig . April 30, 2015.
  9. News: Rory McIlroy advances at Match Play, will next face Billy Horschel . ESPN . Bob . Harig . April 30, 2015.
  10. News: Rickie Fowler assured of advancing at Match Play; Jordan Spieth 2-0 . ESPN . Associated Press . May 1, 2015.
  11. News: McIlroy rallies to advance in Match Play Championship . USA Today . Associated Press . May 2, 2015.
  12. News: Five ways to fix the 'new' WGC-Match Play . ESPN . May 1, 2015 . Jason . Sobel.
  13. Web site: Past Results – World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play . March 30, 2021.

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