Matchplay draw suits Day, Scott

Defending champion Jason Day and fellow Aussie Adam Scott have received a friendly draw at the WGC Matchplay.

Australian golfer Jason Day

Australians Jason Day (pic) and Adam Scott have received a friendly draw at the WGC Matchplay. (AAP)

Defending champion and world No.6 Jason Day has drawn Americans Zach Johnson, Charley Hoffman and South African Branden Grace for the round robin stage of the World Golf Championships Match Play at Harding Park.

Day, who claimed the lucrative event battled out by the worlds top 64 ranked golfers in the previous straight knockout format last year will this year have to win his group after matches against each man on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to advance to the knockout round of 16.

Day claimed the biggest win of his career after an epic final battle with Frenchman Victor Dubuisson went 22 holes in 2014 and returns in form after a tie for fourth at the Zurich Classic.

He is 14-3 lifetime in the event and the Queenslander will like his chances having smashed Johnson 6 and 5 two years ago in Tucson on his way to a third place finish.

World No.9 Adam Scott has been slated to play against American Chris Kirk, Englishman Paul Casey and Italian Francesco Molinari, the lowest ranked player in the field.

Casey is the darkhorse in the group having finished runner-up in the 2009 ad 2010 events.

Returning to the event after missing last year partly in protest to the old one and done format and the course in Tucson, Scott is hoping a change of scenery will help his record in the event.

The former world No.1 failed to get past the second round in his last eight appearances at the event, being knocked out in the opening round five times, including his last three on the trot.

Marc Leishman will need to get past last start winner, world No.6 Justin Rose in a tough draw but if he can provide an upset on Wednesday the Victorian should like his chances against India's Anirban Lahiri and American Ryan Palmer.

Matt Jones will be up against it to progress in his debut appearance on the event, drawing world No.8 Dustin Johnson, Dubuisson and former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel.

John Senden will open his campaign against World No.3, Henrik Stenson while also facing Americans Bill Haas and Brendon Todd.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy received no favours from the draw getting FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel, Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner.

Masters champion and World No.2 Jordan Spieth will face Lee Westwood, Matt Every and Mikko Ilonen.


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Source: AAP


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