Get to know: 23-year-old Victor Dubuisson, who takes on Bubba Watson in Round 3 of the WGC-Match Play

By Stephen
Hennessey

MARANA, Ariz. -- He took down Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter in Turkey last November, has risen to No. 30 in the World (ahead of Bill Haas and Lee Westwood) and will be playing in the Masters in April.

Even so American golf fans aren't likely to know much about Victor Dubuisson as he takes on Bubba Watson during the third round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Let us, then, try to help. In his last four European Tour events, the 23-year-old Frenchman has three top 5s and a T-20. For his success, he has made 1.406 million Euros (the equivalent to $1.93 million). That's a lot of cash for four tournaments!

Dubuisson is 2-0 in his first appearance at the WGC-Match Play and takes on fellow bomber Bubba Watson in the Sweet 16. Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Some more things you should know about Dubuisson:

-- He is the former No. 1 amateur golfer in
the world. He won the 2009 European Amateur. Former winners include
Sergio Garcia (1995) and Rory McIlroy (2006).

-- Prior to the WGC-Accenture Match Play, Dubuisson had not played any match-play tournaments as a pro. On Wednesday, he took down Kevin Streelman, 5 and 4, and started his Thursday match against Ryder Cupper Peter Hanson with three birdies before holding on for a 3-and-1 win. His strategy against Hanson? Pretend it was a stroke-play event: "Just trying to make some birdies on the par 5s. But I tried to not push my game, like to not try to make birdie on every hole, just to play it safe." It's pretty much the opposite of what everyone else's match-play strategy has been, but it's working for Dubuisson!

-- If you dig the long ball, you'll like this
match with Watson. Dubuisson is averaging 305.8 yards per drive on the Euro Tour
this season -- and still might find himself behind Bubba on most holes.
Bubba's 2013-'14 average driving distance is 320.8 yards (No. 1 on the
PGA Tour.)

-- His inspiration to get into golf was watching as a 12-year-old Tiger Woods win the 2002 Masters.

Related: What we're looking forward to Friday at the Match Play 

-- The Frenchman won the Turkish Airlines Open in November, shooting 63-69 on the weekend to win his first European Tour title.

-- He credits working with Gregory Havret's coach, Benoit Ducoulombier, as turning around his putting and short game.

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