Weekly PGA Preview: WGC-Cadillac Match Play Preview

Usually this space is reserved for looking back at the previous event or looking ahead in the case of majors, but with the changes made to the match-play format this year, I thought it best if we quickly review what's changed this year as well some general tips concerning this type of format.

So, what's different this year? The biggest change perhaps is the event is no longer single elimination. Pool play will now be used, so each player is guaranteed at least three matches. This was obviously put in play to protect higher seeds from being eliminated early by a lower-seeded golfers who happened to catch lightning in a bottle.

How does one advance from the first round? Simple, unless there is a three-way tie. The golfer from each mini-pool with the best record moves on. In case of ties, head-to-head is used, but get this, if there is a three-way tie, then a playoff is used. Can you imagine a playoff on Friday? Well, we might just get one this week.

The other major change is the opponents themselves. No longer will a straight world-ranking be used. World ranking is still in play, but it's not simply highest vs. lowest anymore. Considering that ranking golfers in a format like this is a bit futile, there's really no reason to go into detail on this one, just know that it's going to be a little different this year.

After the first round the event will revert back to its original format -- hopefully with more higher seeds still in play. As in years past, this is always a dangerous tournament to take a big gun like Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth, but with the changes this year, it's not as much of a risk as it used to be.

This week: WGC-Cadillac Match Play - TPC Harding Park, San Francisco

Last Year: Jason Day defeated Victor Dubuisson

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Justin Rose

Nobody is hotter than Rose, and with the new format he has a little room for error. His track record at this event isn't great, but all bets are off considering a new course is in play this week.

Jason Day

Event history can't be thrown out entirely because of the new venue, however, because a golfer's record at this event is also a reflection on how he fares in this type of format. Day has thrived over the years in this format, and he's near the top of his game.

Paul Casey

Casey has a strong track record in this format, and now that he's back in the top 64 he has a chance to again make some noise. Casey has two runner-ups at this event and has advanced past the first round in his last five tries at this event.

Sergio Garcia

Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling Sergio is going to come up big this week. He has the match-play format in his blood from all of his Ryder Cup matches and has often fared well at this event. New course, yes, but Garcia thrives in this format no matter the venue.

Hunter Mahan

Mahan's had his share of struggles during Ryder Cup play, an infamous flubbed chip shot comes to mind, but that notwithstanding, he usually manages to play well at this event. He won it in 2013 and enters with four consecutive top-10s.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Adam Scott

Perhaps no one in the field will benefit more from the format change than Scott as he's had trouble advancing past the first round the last five years. While the new format will help, that's still not enough of a reason to use Scott in a match-play scenario.

Rory McIlroy

Time for the weekly disclaimer -- only in a one-and-done format is McIlroy to be avoided. McIlroy is nearly a lock to win one of the final three majors, so why would you take him this week when his odds of winning are probably the lowest they will be the rest of the year?

Jordan Spieth

Same goes for Spieth this week. He's going to play well during the majors, it's almost a lock, so why risk it this week? Sure, his odds of moving into the final 16 are greatly improved with the new format, but it's back to single-elimination on the weekend, just like before. Even Tiger struggled to win this event in his heyday.

Zach Johnson

Johnson always struggles at this event. In 10 starts, he's advanced past the second round just once and has failed to win his opening match in his last four tries here. The new format can only help a player like Johnson, but expect him to have trouble advancing to the second round anyway.

Dustin Johnson

This event just hasn't been kind to the Johnsons over the years. Dustin has played this event six times and only once has he made it out of the first round. There's a chance the course could have played a factor into both his and Zach's ability to make it past the first round, but the format seems more likely the cause.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Steve Stricker (MC) - $0; Season - $1,900,961

This week: Jason Day - Day is the type of player right on the edge of "too good to use in this format," but his track record here is too good to ignore, and he's playing at a high level now, so I'm pulling the trigger.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 2,474
Rank: 16,732

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Steve Stricker (MC); Streak - 0

This week: N/A