Defending champion Dustin Johnson commits to 2018 Dell Technologies Match Play

AUSTIN, Texas – With the 2018 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play set to return to Austin March 21-25, player commitments from the PGA TOUR’s biggest stars have begun rolling in, including defending champion Dustin Johnson and 2013 champion Matt Kuchar.

Heading into Austin on the heels of back-to-back victories, Johnson recorded one of the most dominant wins in tournament history at the 2017 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play to secure his third consecutive victory. The World No. 1 led a tournament record 94 percent of matches and never trailed in a single match over 112 holes on his way to a 1-up victory over Jon Rahm in the Championship Match.

“The World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play continues to attract the world’s very best every year, and we’re excited to see that continue with the early commitment to this year’s event of our defending champion and current world No. 1 Dustin Johnson,” said Executive Director Jordan Uppleger. “His record-setting performance a year ago produced a thrilling finale between him and Jon Rahm to cap off a week of unbelievable matches. With the commitments coming in, fans will surely see the same type of back-nine drama that we’ve seen each of the last two years at Austin Country Club.”

With his victory a year ago, Johnson became the first player in history with victories in all four World Golf Championship events after previously winning the 2014 WGC-HSBC Champions, 2015 WGC-Mexico Championship and 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. In total, the 17-time PGA TOUR winner has posted at least one victory in each of his first 11 seasons on the PGA TOUR – a feat only accomplished by Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

In only two starts so far during the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season, Johnson’s producing another excellent campaign with a dominant eight-shot victory at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and a runner-up finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Kuchar, a seven-time PGA TOUR winner, is committed for his ninth appearance at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after winning the 2013 edition with a 2 and 1 victory over Hunter Mahan. In eight prior appearances, Kuchar has proven quite adept at match play with a victory and four additional top-10s. He, along with Tiger Woods, remain the only two players in history to have won both the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the U.S. Amateur.

The 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, the third of four World Golf Championships events during the 2017-18 season, returns to Austin Country Club on March 21-25, with a limited number of tickets still available. Tickets can be purchased at DellTechnologiesMatchPlay.com or by calling 844-868-7465. Tickets available include weekly grounds badges that grant access to the Austin Country Club grounds and all public venues, fan activations and bleachers. Additionally, ULTRA Club badges are available. The ULTRA Club, which is located on the 12th fairway, offers an enhanced venue to follow the action, with several televisions located throughout and open seating for guests to sit and mingle in a relaxed sports bar setting.

Those who purchased tickets are reminded that youth 18 and under will be admitted free all week when accompanied by a ticketed adult (one free youth ticket per each adult ticket will be available). This free ticket only applies for grounds tickets and not upgraded hospitality options.

The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play is one of the most elite and exciting tournaments on golf’s calendar as one in a series of four World Golf Championships events sanctioned and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour. The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play field annually consists of the very best players from around the world from all Tours and traditionally features nearly all of the top 64 in the world.

Since its inception, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play has generated more than $17 million for charity with the tournament announcing in early October that the 2017 edition raised over $1.1 million for five Austin-based charities.

For more information, follow the tournament’s social pages: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit DellTechnologiesMatchPlay.com.