Friday provided more surprises as this WGC Accenture Match Play moves into quarter-final Saturday.
Sang-moon Bae is the biggest surprise, Although well known and respected in Asia he has now beat Poulter, Schwartzel and Henden to get a match with McIlroy today, and trust me Rory had best bring his A game, Bae has nothing to lose.
Mark Wilson as I expected was too steady for DJ, but 4 and 3 was a surprise, as was the 4 and 3 win by Matt Kuchar over Martin Kaymer, and for that matter 5 and 3 by Peter Hanson over Brandt Snedeker, but really that is the nature of 18 holes of virtual sudden death, and the nature of pro golf now, where any of these guys can win on any given week, never mind any given day..
So enjoy today's quarters, because tomorrow there are just 2 matches then Sunday just the one, so it can get a little less exciting especially since the McIlroy vs Westwood match up for world #1 would happen in the semi's, not the final.
Here again are the match previews from pgatour.com along with my analysis and picks in bold
* update.... I went 4-0 with my picks for the quarter finals..
live scoring, full bracket http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/leaderboards/current/r470/
Match Time (ET) Player Player Bracket
57 12:05 p.m. 9. Peter Hanson vs 10. Mark Wilson Jones
Match Play records: Hanson 5-4, Wilson 4-1
Neither Wilson nor Hanson has seen the 18th hole this week and the Swede has yet to trail in any of his three matches. Hanson, who lost in the first round the last two years, feels like he's been something of a slow starter. So the five-time European Tour winner has opted for a different approach this week because he feels match play is more of a sprint than stroke play where the focus is to be in the hunt on Sunday. Toward that end, Hanson has tried to fire himself up by playing music -- loud -- before each of his matches and it's worked. Hanson has won at least one of the first two holes in all three matches. While Hanson is playing in the Accenture for the fifth time, this week marks Wilson's second appearance. "Match play is a new thing for me," said Wilson, who did lose to Tiger Woods in the championship of the 1992 U.S. Junior Am. "I've definitely felt a little more comfortable each day." Wilson, who won the Humana Challenge last month, says he played his best golf in his first match with Bo Van Pelt. "Since then I haven't scored as well, but my opponents have given me holes,' said Wilson, who was 4 up on Dustin Johnson through seven holes on Friday.. "I played a little more tentative on purpose. I'm happy to be here and advancing and see what we can do tomorrow."
I say.. Wilson has been my pick all along this week so I am sticking with him for all the reasons I've stated. Big Peter will be a tough win the way he's been playing this week, but I've seen him play well before like this, then come up with a stinker when it counted, either way Wilson says he's been winning without being at his best, that's dangerous news for the field.
RESULT..Wilson wins 4 and 3
58 12:20 p.m. 4. Matt Kuchar vs 6. Hunter Mahan Hogan
Match Play records: Kuchar 9-2, Mahan 6-4
The two Americans are well-acquainted with each other after playing together on the most recent U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams. Mahan says Kuchar "never seems to get that angry on the golf course, just kind of ho-hums it and he just kind of laughs and smiles while he's stepping on your heart." Mahan has been the more explosive of the two. Part of the credit there goes to his switch this week to the Ping Nome putter that has less offset and helps him to have better aim. Friday was Mahan's best ball-striking round, too, as he hit 80 percent of his fairways and 83 percent of his greens in regulation. Kuchar, who finished third a year ago, is as steady as they come and has only trailed in two of the 49 holes he's played this week. He's hit 32 of 49 greens in regulation and found all but eight fairways in 38 holes. Kuchar was relentless in beating the world No. 4 Martin Kaymer on Friday. "All in all, I feel like my game is in good form. I just wanted to play a few extra holes to familiarize myself with them." he said after playing the last 3 holes by himself.
I say.. this should go down as a tie ! However the 3 best drivers of the ball left are Hunter, Westwood and Rory, so in looking for the tiniest of edges I will go with Mahan over the smiling assassin.
RESULT.. Mahan wins 6 and 5
59 2:05 p.m. 1. Rory McIlroy vs 11. Sang-moon Bae Player
Match Play records: McIlroy 8-3, Bae 3-0
Bae may be a PGA TOUR rookie while McIlroy is making his 2012 debut in the United States. The two won't need to be introduced on the first tee, though. They were paired together in the final round of the 2009 Korean Open -- which Bae ended up winning, shooting a 67 to McIlroy's 72. "I was really impressed with him," McIlroy recalled. "... He's been very impressive this week taking down (Ian) Poulter and Charl (Schwartzel), two of the best players. McIlroy, though, feels like he played his best golf of the week on Friday in beating Miguel Angel Jimenez. He never trailed against the gritty Spaniard and McIlroy was particularly pleased with his performance on the closing segment. " I hit a lot of quality shots," McIlroy said. "I still hit a couple of loose ones, but for the most part I felt like I drove the ball great. I hit a lot of iron shots close to the pin. I was really pleased when I had to hit good shots coming down the stretch ... I was able to produce them." Bae said the Accenture was his first-ever match play event but he seems to have gotten the hang of things quickly.
I say.. Bae is just the surprise of the tournament, his stock on the PGA tour has sky rocketed, his 1 up win over a very hot John Senden another example. However surely he has met his Waterloo today against Rory.. hasn't he ??
RESULT ..McIlroy wins 3 and 2
60 2:20 p.m. 1. Lee Westwood vs 10. Martin Laird Snead
Match Play records: Westwood 10-11, Laird 3-1
Westwood has applied pressure early in each of his first three matches -- winning the first two holes of his last two matches with birdies and two of the first three in his opener. Chalk that up to the "more aggressive attitude" Westwood has taken to the first tee. Not to mention, after halving his first hole on Wednesday with a par, Westood has been in front of his opponent for his next 48 holes. "I think the format dictates that you need to get off to a fight, really," Westwood said. Laird made his share on Friday, as well, in taking down his countryman Paul Lawrie. The Scotsman who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., practices in the desert so he knows the ball starts going farther as the temperatures heat up -- and with a 2:20 p.m. ET tee time on Saturday that could be a bonus. Laird also spent the last four days working with his coach and he feels like he's hitting the ball as well as he has in the last six or eight months.
I say... Laird is really playing well finishing Lawrie off on the 17th green yesterday, but I must admit Lee has the bit between his teeth and is firing on all cylinders. He is full of confidence and is the best player tee to green left. Unless his putter is cold he will prevail against the talented Scot
RESULT.. Westwood wins 4 and 2
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at http://www.isr1050.com/
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