Kevin Kisner picks his battles carefully at this stage of his career.

The 37-year-old isn't among the PGA Tour's big hitters and readily admits competing on longer courses can be a struggle. He crafts his schedule carefully, which is why he won't be at next week's Valero Texas Open despite typically liking to play the week before a major.

TPC San Antonio plays longer than 7,400 yards as a par 72 track. But Kisner far prefers this week's venue -- the par 71, 7,108-yard Austin Country Club, host of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

He returns to Austin as the defending champion after the event was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kisner is a clear fan of the format, having finished second to Bubba Watson in 2018.

"I enjoy the difference in strategy," Kisner said Monday. "I enjoy playing one-on-one, not just playing the golf course, I enjoy changing up through the round how the match is unfolding, a lot of different variations throughout the day, and I enjoy having to make a few pressure-packed putts to keep the momentum on your side."

Kisner hasn't had much momentum in 2021. He and his wife recent welcomed the berth of their third child and Kisner has teed it up only five times this year, with his best finish a tie for 22nd at the limited Tournament of Champions field.

Kisner enters this week ranked No. 36 in the world, but having played only five times in the past 15 weeks. He missed the cut at each of the past two majors and failed to make the weekend at The Players Championship in his last start.

The Match Play groupings were revealed Monday, with Kisner paired with second-seeded Justin Thomas, No. 22 Louis Oosthuizen and No. 52 Matt Kuchar.

Thomas is coming off a win at The Players and is the pre-tournament betting favorite at 1100 by PointsBet. As the No. 34 seed, Kisner is a 6000 longshot. Despite his recent success in the event, Kisner has shorter odds than only Kuchar (12,500) in his group.

"I would have way more fun if all three of them just forfeited the match, to be honest," Kisner joked about the strength of his group. "But, no, it's fun. If you want to be the best, you got to beat the best, and J.T.'s playing arguably the best in the world right now, so it will be a lot of fun.

"Obviously the other two players are all longtime Tour stalwarts that have been out here and played great, had a lot of success, so looking forward to seeing how my game steps up against all of them."

Match Play Groups

Group 1

Dustin Johnson (1)

Kevin Na (28)

Robert MacIntyre (41)

Adam Long (61)

Group 2

Justin Thomas (2)

Louis Oosthuizen (22)

Kevin Kisner (34)

Matt Kuchar (52)

Group 3

Jon Rahm (3)

Ryan Palmer (24)

Shane Lowry (38)

Sebastian Munoz (56)

Group 4

Collin Morikawa (4)

Billy Horschel (32)

Max Homa (35)

J.T. Poston (63)

Group 5

Bryson DeChambeau (5)

Tommy Fleetwood (21)

Si Woo Kim (45)

Antoine Rozner (58)

Group 6

Xander Schauffele (6)

Scottie Scheffler (30)

Jason Day (44)

Andy Sullivan (57)

Group 7

Patrick Reed (7)

Joaquin Niemann (26)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout (33)

Bubba Watson (55)

Group 8

Tyrrell Hatton (8)

Lee Westwood (18)

Sergio Garcia (39)

Matt Wallace (51)

Group 9

Webb Simpson (9)

Paul Casey (17)

Mackenzie Hughes (48)

Talor Gooch (59)

Group 10

Patrick Cantlay (10)

Hideki Matsuyama (23)

Carlos Ortiz (42)

Brian Harman (54)

Group 11

Rory McIlroy (11)

Cameron Smith (25)

Lanto Griffin (46)

Ian Poulter (60)

Group 12

Tony Finau (12)

Jason Kokrak (29)

Will Zalatoris (40)

Dylan Frittelli (64)

Group 13

Viktor Hovland (13)

Abraham Ancer (27)

Bernd Wiesberger (43)

Kevin Streelman (53)

Group 14

Daniel Berger (14)

Harris English (19)

Brendon Todd (47)

Erik van Rooyen (62)

Group 15

Matt Fitzpatrick (15)

Matthew Wolff (20)

Corey Conners (37)

Jordan Spieth (49)

Group 16

Sungjae Im (16)

Victor Perez (31)

Marc Leishman (36)

Russell Henley (50)