16 matches begin at 9.35am yesterday, with 32 of the guys are already gone to destinations around the world, here were my picks for the 32 that played. The preview is from pgatour.com with my thoughts under the heading.." I say.."
and then I have posted the final RESULT
My record in round 2 predictions was 8-8..
I must say it might be more intriguing if these first round matches were over 36 holes as they were for years at the World MatchPlay at Wentworth. It gives guys a chance to catch up if they have a few bad holes, and would be a better reflection of who was the better player. 18 holes is really a bit of a coin toss, albeit an exciting one..
ROUND 2 MATCHES
Match Time (ET) Player Player Bracket
33 9:25 a.m. 2. Steve Stricker vs 7. Louis Oosthuizen Hogan
Match Play records: Stricker 11-8, Oosthuizen 1-2
Wednesday marked the first time Oosthuizen had gotten past the first round in three starts at the Accenture Match Play Championship. He faces an experienced -- and confident -- player in Stricker, who won the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Oosthuizen, though, also has a 2012 win under his belt at the Joberg Open.
I say : if the wind was blowing I'd pick Louis, a great wind player, however in this perfect desert air Stricker will have the edge
RESULT..Stricker wins 1 up
34 9:37 a.m. 14. Y.E. Yang vs 6. Hunter Mahan Hogan
Match Play records: Yang 5-3, Mahan 5-4
The opportunistic Yang never trailed in beating Graeme McDowell in Wednesday's duel of former major champions. Mahan, on the other hand, was 2 down through 5 holes but eventually forced sudden death with Zach Johnson, winning the 17th to square the match. Both had good runs at Dove Mountain a year ago, Yang taking it to the quarterfinals while Mahan lasted three rounds.
I say.. Yang has a steely quality about him that he has displayed time and time again under pressure (PGA, Presidents Cups), this will be close, but I'll give the nod to the South Korean
RESULT..Mahan wins 5 and 3
35 9:49 a.m. 15. Matteo Manassero vs 10. Martin Laird Snead
Match Play records: Manassero 3-1, Laird 1-1
The 18-year-old from Italy has proven something of a giant-killer in his two appearances at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, beating Steve Stricker and Charl Schwartzel a year ago and taking down world No. 6 Webb Simpson, who finished second in the FedExCup in 2011, on Wednesday. Laird, meanwhile, won a close one with Alvaro Quiros with neither player leading more than 1 up and the Scotsman winning with a 3-footer on the 18th hole.
I say .. Martin Laird's career is on the rise with his maiden PGA tour win last year at Bay Hill, and his move from Scotland to the States to live and play, however young Matteo is special, and fearless as the American audience is going to be reminded of again when he wins today.
RESULT.. Laird wins 2 and 1
36 10:01 a.m. 14. Ryo Ishikawa vs 11. Paul Lawrie Snead
Match Play records: Ryo Ishikawa 3-2, Lawrie 5-4
Ishikawa had to gain confidence from the way he beat Bill Haas, the reigning FedExCup champion who won the Northern Trust Open in a playoff Sunday. Haas was 3 up at the 13th hole Wednesday but Ishikawa won four of the next five with three birdies and a par. Lawrie hasn't played in the Accenture Match Play Championship since 2003 but the Scotsman, who won in Qatar earlier this month, wasted little time getting his sea legs in a hard-fought battle with Justin Rose.
I say.. despite Ryo's late heroics yesterday beating Haas, Paul Lawrie is playing some of the best golf of his career this year with a win and 4 top 10's, and he is one of my sleeper picks. He has always been hardest on himself, but his winning form has that under control right now..
RESULT.. Lawrie wins 1 up
37 10:13 a.m. 15. Robert Rock vs 10. Mark Wilson Jones
Match Play records: Rock 1-1, Wilson 2-1
Rock made a name for himself playing with Tiger Woods in the final round and winning at Abu Dhabi. He has to be pleased with the way he won his opener on Wednesday, too, getting his first lead against Adam Scott with consecutive birdies at Nos. 15 and 16 on the way to victory. But Wilson, who won the Humana Challenge earlier this year, was 6 under through 16 holes in his bogey-free match so he'll take to the first tee with confidence.
I say .. Robert is having the time of his life for the former club pro, who received a hand written letter of congratulations from Arnie after he beat Tiger and I picked him yesterday, but I fear the deadly accurate Mark Wilson will emerge victorious today, leaving Robert time to compose his reply to the King..
RESULT.. Wilson wins 3 and 2
38 10:25 a.m. 3. Dustin Johnson vs 11. Francesco Molinari Jones
Match Play records: Johnson 1-3, Molinari 1-2
Each of the two picked up their first career wins at the Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday. The big-hitting Johnson ended three years of futility when he rallied on the back nine to beat Jim Furyk with a par on the 20th hole. Molinari also needed extra holes against a veteran, beating Thomas Bjorn on the 20th hole when he holed a wedge for eagle from 79 feet.
I say.. DJ reminds me of Joe Bugner, the big, superbly talented British heavyweight of the 60's 70's who could have been world champion if he had any fire at all in his belly. He just seems to amble along, taking your breath away with his length and touch, but it never seems to bother him when he is getting his butt kicked... Still Francesco says he is putting poorly in a recent twitter and this course isn't the place to have a cold flat stick..DJ moves on.
RESULT.. Johnson wins 7 and 5
39 10:37 a.m. 2. Jason Day vs 10. John Senden Player
Match Play records: Day 3-1, Senden 1-1
Day should have the momentum after winning his last three holes against Rafael Cabrera-Bello to force sudden death and taking the victory with a 4-footer for birdie at the 19th hole. The other Aussie is extremely steady tee-to-green, though, and he ranks third in scoring average on TOUR right now.
I say... in this battle of Aussie's I am sticking with John Senden, who is down the Aussie pecking order from young Jason, but he has always been under rated in my books, his putter lets him down, but it is working these days, his ball striking always is... Jason was down and out yesterday but Cabrera-Bello let him off the hook.. Senden won't..
RESULT.. Senden wins 6 and 5
40 10:49 a.m. 3. Charl Schwartzel vs 11. Sang-moon Bae Player
Match Play records: Schwartzel 5-3, Bae 1-0
This is classic David vs. Goliath. Schwartzel is the defending Masters champ while Bae is a PGA TOUR rookie. That said, Bae proved himself on Wednesday as he never trailed in taking down the 2010 Accenture Match Play champion Ian Poulter. Schwartzel, though, had a similarly lopsided match against Gary Woodland.
I say.. Bae had best enjoy his win over Poulter yesterday because today he is up against one of my picks to get to the final four. Charl has taken his Masters green jacket all over the world to show it off, and he now carries himself like a champion should, both on and off the course..
RESULT.. Bae wins 1 up41 11:01 a.m. 1. Martin Kaymer vs 8. David Toms Hogan
Match Play records: Kaymer 8-4, Toms 24-9
Will this be a birdie fest? These two combined for 13 birdies in their first-round wins. Kaymer has won six of his last seven matches at the Ritz-Carlton course, but the German knows who the crowd favorite will be in his match. "I won't have a lot of friends here tomorrow," he said after Wednesday's first-round win. "But we'll be fine."
I say.. Toms is exactly the guy for this course, much like Mark Wilson, straight, accurate iron player, good long iron (hybrid) player and a decent putter. Martin has way more talent and he has been getting steadily better after a slow start to 2012, so this is a tough pick. Something inside of me says pick Toms in an upset..
RESULT.. Kaymer wins 2up
42 11:13 a.m. 4. Matt Kuchar vs 5. Bubba Watson Hogan
Match Play records: Kuchar 7-2, Watson 5-2
Both players lost in the semifinals last year, so it's a rematch of their consolation final, when Kuchar beat Watson 2 and 1. The big-hitting Watson was very pleased with his ball striking in the first round. "Bubba is a fantastic player and if he's on, he's going to be tough to beat," Kuchar said. "... I'm just going to plug along. I have got a steady game plan to try and hit fairways and greens."
I say... Matt Kuchar the smiling assassin, never fails to surprise me although he shouldn't after winning it all in 2010. Bubba can beat anyone, any day, unfortunately that includes himself, so I have to pick the steadier of the two, Matt K in a tight match..
RESULT.. Kuchar wins 3 and 2
43 11:25 a.m. 1. Lee Westwood vs 8. Robert Karlsson Snead
Match Play records: Westwood 8-11, Karlsson 3-6
It's the moment of Match Play truth for Westwood. Will he finally get past the second round in this event? He's never done so in 11 previous appearances, surprising for one of the world's best players. If Karlsson plays like he did in the first round, Westwood may not have much say in the matter. The Swede hit every green in regulation, the only player to do that Wednesday.
I say... I don't care how well Lee plays today, Karlsson was one of the surprises of the day yesterday, the question is will he do it again today, if he does nobody beats him. Lee is such a steady grinder early in the year, a notorious slow starter, I fear he won't see Friday here again this year..
RESULT.. Westwood wins 3 and 2
44 11:37 a.m. 4. Nick Watney vs 5. Tiger Woods Snead
Match Play records: Watney 5-2, Woods 33-8
Woods said he was having a tough time judging distances, something he will need to correct against his fellow American. Woods, a three-time winner of this event, obviously has a better track record, but Watney has more wins on this particular course (five to Tiger's two since 2009). Does that mean anything? Maybe not, but Watney must feel comfortable here.
I say... This one isn't tough for me, because Tiger was all over the lot yesterday, missing left and right with the driver, misjudging irons and missing putts and Gonzo said it all afterwards, " Today was the day to beat Tiger but I didn't "
Nick Watney is very steady talented player now, in the old days Tiger would completely intimidate the timid Watney, but should no longer..
RESULT.. Watney wins 1 up
45 11:49 a.m. 16. Ernie Els vs 9. Peter Hanson Jones
Match Play records: Els 11-11, Hanson 3-4
The Big Easy pulled off the biggest upset on Wednesday, knocking off defending champ Luke Donald. Now he'll go against Hanson, who is in the second round for just the second time in five Match Play starts. Both players were solid in the first round, but if Els can avoid the kind of putter issues that have plagued him recently, he'll be a tough out.
I say... Ernie, ERNIE, Ernie.. he's past the first round, but will face a sterner test from the under rated big Swede, however the main thing for me is that Ernie was making putts yesterday, the rest of his game is still fine..
RESULT.. Hansen wins 5 and 4
46 12:01 p.m. 13. Kyle Stanley vs 5. Brandt Snedeker Jones
Match Play records: Stanley 1-0, Snedeker 1-1
Ah, the drama these two cooked up at Torrey Pines, with Snedeker winning in a playoff against Stanley, who blew a three-shot lead on the 72nd hole. Of course, Stanley bounced back quickly the next week, winning at TPC Scottsdale. Obviously, the Arizona desert is his friend. While the Torrey Pines storyline is intriguing, it may not have much bearing on Thursday's match.
I say... this is a toss up although from a human point of view, it seems fitting that Kyle would beat Brandt today, so for that reason and no other I 'll pick him..
RESULT ..Snedeker wins 2 and 1
47 12:13 p.m. 1. Rory McIlroy vs 9. Anders Hansen Player
Match Play records: McIlroy 6-3, Hansen 2-5
McIlroy has been stopped the last two years in the second round, losing to Oliver Wilson in 2010 and Ben Crane last year. Can he avoid another Thursday takedown? He was shaky at the end in his first-round win, while Hansen finished up strong. With Luke Donald out of the equation, McIlroy could rise to world No. 1 by the end of the week.
I say.. I already have Martin and Lee ( two #1 seeds) bowing out today and will say right here that Rory can easily make it three against another under rated ( in North America) European tour veteran, who like Toms and Wilson is straight, accurate and decent on the greens... Rory was last off the practice range last night and should have solved the driver problem that cropped up late in yesterday's round, if he has he will win.
RESULT.. McIlroy wins 3 and 2
48 12:25 p.m. 13. Miguel Angel Jimenez vs 5. Keegan Bradley Player
Match Play records: Jimenez 10-10, Bradley 1-0
Bradley's confidence is soaring right now. He had six birdies and an eagle on a bogey-free Wednesday, and that comes off a dramatic effort at Riviera. And his game and demeanor just seems primed for match play success. Jimenez hasn't fared all that well in this event, although he did reach the quarterfinals last year.
I say.. Keegan Bradley looks like the class of the field this week. He is red hot after his loss in the playoff at Riviera, all aspects of his game are on display and I expect him to beat Miguel handily..
RESULT..Jimenez wins 2 and 1
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at http://www.isr1050.com/
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