BlogWho will win Wednesday’s matches?

A look at all 32 matches, who will win?

Bobby Jones bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

 

Time  Match

12:05      29  (#3) Henrik Stenson vs (#67) Kiradech Aphibarnrat

Both players haven’t done very well the last couple of months, for Stenson it’s been a struggle in this event after winning in 2007 and finishing 3rd the next year.  Since then has lost on the first day four times, I see him breaking that streak and beating Aphibarnrat who has never played this event.

My pick – Stenson

 

Time  Match

12:15 AM    30  (#35) Louis Oosthuizen vs (#36) Nick Watney

On paper Watney should have the advantage since he has a 7 -4 record at Dove Mountain while Oosthuizen has a 2-4 record at Dove Mountain, but Watney’s game is not sharp and I can’t see him finding that magic to beat Oosthuizen who has been resting since winning the Volvo Champions six weeks ago

My pick – Oosthuizen 

 

Time  Match

10:45 AM    21  (#19) Brandt Snedeker vs (#52) David Lynn

Snedeker says he is “fully healthy now” but has been very rusty and it’s been a struggle this year.  For Lynn he is also struggling so this match is very hard to call.  I give the edge to Lynn who will be the underdog and will have that attitude that he has nothing to really lose.  That’s the problem for guys like Snedeker, going against underdogs sometimes makes things even tougher.

My pick – Lynn

 

Time  Match

10:55 AM    22  (#20) Webb Simpson vs (#51) Thongchai Jaidee

Jaidee did get to the quarter-finals in 2010 but his game isn’t very sharp right now and I can’t see Simpson taking care of business and have a easy first day

My pick – Simpson

 

Time  Match

9:25 AM    13  (#11) Jason Day vs (#60) Thorbjorn Olesen

Olesen is a great competitor and will give Day a run but I can’t see Olesen pulling this upset unless Day doesn’t take care of business.

My pick – Day

 

Time  Match

9:35 AM    14  (#28) Jamie Donaldson vs (#43) Billy Horschel

Should be a good match, both aren’t playing well right now.  Donaldson has a slight edge because he played last year but that wasn’t much as he lost to Thorbjorn Olesen.  Look for this to go the distance and Horschel winning.

My pick – Horschel

 

Time  Match

8:05 AM     5   (#12) Steve Stricker vs (#59) George Coetzee

Normally this is an easy one to pick but I don’t like the fact that Stricker hasn’t played since the Presidents Cup in October.  Making matters worst Stricker’s been worrying about his bother who had a successful liver transplant last week. Despite Stricker saying he has been practicing, his mind was not on golf and I have to think he will be very rusty on Wednesday.  As for Coetzee, he’s fresh off a win in the Joburg Open two weeks ago and in three starts has a win, a T4th and a T5th.  So this is a easy choice

My pick – Coetzee

 

Time  Match

8:15 AM     6   (#27) Graham DeLaet vs (#44) Patrick Reed

A couple of rookies that have had great moments in 2014, you have to toss a coin on this one.  I give DeLaet just a bit of a edge because he will be a bit hunger than Reed who has played Ok since winning the Humana.

My pick – DeLaet

 

Ben Hogan bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

 

Time  Match

11:25 AM    25   (#7) Rory McIlroy vs (#64) Boo Weekley

Don’t have to waste many brain cells on this one, sorry Boo it’s going to be a short week

My pick – McIlroy

Time  Match

11:35 AM    26   (#32) Lee Westwood vs (#39) Harris English

Another tough choice, yes English is playing great with four top-11 finishes but he is playing in this for the first time.  I tend to think that Westwood has the experience that should carry him. If this was last week I would not give him much of a chance because of his poor play but since he has dumped Sean Foley as his swing coach, Westwood seems to have a different attitude which showed last week in L.A. so this will be a very good match.

My pick – Westwood by a nose

 

Time  Match

10:05 AM    17   (#16) Charl Schwartzel vs (#55) Kevin Stadler

On paper Schwartzel has a big edge with his great play in L.A. last week.  Still can’t discount Stadler’s great win in Phoenix, but Charl knows how to win matches, he has a 5-5 record so the experience should carry him over Stadler who is a rookie this year.

My pick – Schwartzel

 

Time  Match

10:15 AM    18   (#23) Jim Furyk vs (#48) Chris Kirk

I can smell an upset here, maybe we shouldn’t call it an upset because Chris Kirk is turning into a very good pro.  Furyk will be playing his 25th match on Wednesday but frankly hasn’t shown us much in the 13 times he has played in this event (tied with Els and Westwood for most years played in this event).  That’s because in 13 times he has never made it past the third round and has lost six times in the first round.  Call it a gut feeling but just don’t think that Furyk can win this one.

My pick – Kirk

 

Time  Match

8:45 AM     9   (#T8)  Sergio Garcia vs (#63) Marc Leishman

We always think that Garcia is better than his record shows.  This will be the 12th time he tees it up and Garcia has lost in the first round four times and three times in the second round.  But he has a lot of experience and Leishman has none in this event so you have to think it will be an easy day for Sergio.

My pick – Garcia

 

Time  Match

8:55 AM    10   (#31) Bill Haas vs (#40) Miguel A. Jimenez

Another of these matches that on paper looks easy, Haas is a better player than Jimenez.  But don’t discount the most interesting man in golf, he has a couple of 5th place finishes, has a good resume with his Ryder Cup experience while Haas has gone down to defeat three straight times in the first round.  Look for Haas to continue the streak.

My pick – Jimenez

 

Time  Match

7:25 AM     1   (#15) Ian Poulter vs (#56) Rickie Fowler

Both Poulter and Fowler haven’t been very impressive this year.  Fowler is in the mist of changing coaches with Butch Harmon taking him on but Fowler hasn’t showed much missing the cut in his last three cuts.  On the other hand Poulter is a great match player but he is very inconsistent and has a tendency of letting things slip by him.  Still can’t see that happening on Wednesday.

My pick – Poulter

 

Time  Match

7:35 AM     2   (#24) Jimmy Walker vs (#47) Branden Grace

We shouldn’t be spending any brain cells pondering this match, Walker is having just a great year.  But that could be a problem, he didn’t play well on Sunday at Riviera and showed some signs of possibly being out of gas.  This could be a big upset, but I still think that despite leaking oil Walker is better than Grace.  But don’t be surprise if this is an upset.

My pick – Walker but reluctantly

 

Gary Player bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

Time  Match

12:25 AM    31   (#5) Justin Rose vs (#66) Scott Piercy

Don’t think we need to spend much time on this, Rose should have a easy day.  Only one thing, his record isn’t that great in not only this event but also at Dove Mountain.  But I can’t see that affecting him on Wednesday

My pick – Rose

 

Time  Match

12:35 AM     32  (#34) Ernie Els vs (#37) Stephen Gallacher

Another of these no-brainers but you never know about Els.  He has disappointed me a bunch of times over the last 20 years, but I just can’t see Gallacher pulling off this upset.

My pick – Els

 

Time  Match

11:05 AM     23  (#18) Jason Dufner vs (#53) Scott Stallings

Could be a very good match, Dufner hasn’t really shown us much since winning the PGA other than a 5th at Hyundai.  Stallings on the other hand did win at Torrey but doesn’t have much to write about.  So it’s a toss-up.

My pick – Heads came up so Stalling

 

Time  Match

11:15 AM     24  (#21) Luke Donald vs (#50) Matteo Manassero

Interesting match just because both aren’t playing very well.  There is a bit of history, on the way to Donald winning this event in 2011 he beat Manassero in the third round 3 & 2 so you know that Manassero will be looking to get back at Donald.  Still since winning in 2011 Donald hasn’t been very impressive and hasn’t shown us much in a year so I can smell an upset here.

My pick – Manassero

 

Time  Match

9:45 AM     15  (#10) Matt Kuchar vs (#61) Bernd Wiesberger

Kuchar hasn’t played well but he is coming to an event and course where he has a 14 – 4 record.  Think this will be just what Kuchar needs, an easy first round match to regain that winning feeling.

My pick – Kuchar

 

Time  Match

9:55 AM     16  (#29) Ryan Moore vs (#42) Joost Luiten

Both Moore and Luiten were playing well but have slacked off the last month or so.  Moore does have the experience in match play, this is the first time for Luiten in this event so I have to go with Moore

My pick – Moore

 

Time  Match

8:25 AM     7   (#13) Jordan Spieth vs (#58) Pablo Larrazabal

On paper this looks easy, Spieth has a better pedigree.  Don’t discount Larrazabal, he won on a desert course in Abu Dhabi that is similar to Dove Mountain and will give Spieth a run for him money

My pick – Larrazabal

 

Time  Match

8:35 AM     8   (#26) Thomas Bjorn vs (#45) Francesco Molinari

Another tough match to call, yes Bjorn has the experience but Molinari beat Bjorn in the first round in 2012 on the 20th extra hole.  I can see this going in either direction but I think that the Italian will beat him again.

My pick – Molinari

 

Sam Snead bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

Time  Match

11:45 AM    27   (#6) Zach Johnson vs (#65) Richard Sterne

This should be another no-brainer because of the way Johnson started the year off.  Still we have to think a bit because he has a dismal record not only in this event but at Dove Mountain.  After finishing T3rd the last year event was in La Costa in 2006, he has played in seven match plays in Arizona and lost in the first round five times and the second round twice.  Think he will have a easy time with Sterne but it may be short-lived.

My pick – Johnson

 

Time  Match

11:55 AM    28   (#33) Hunter Mahan vs (#38) Gonzalo Fdez-Castano

Has come into his own in this event winning in 2012 and losing in the finals last year. Can see him go on other role, he plays well on this course and with it being played one last time you know he would like another victory.  As for Fdez-Castano, he may be in the wrong place at the wrong time having to face Mahan.

My pick – Mahan

 

Time  Match

10:25 AM    19   (#17) Graeme McDowell vs (#54) Gary Woodland

Another of those on paper should be an easy match for McDowell.  But with his length Woodland could give McDowell a match but I still think it will be an easy day for Graeme.

My pick – McDowell

 

Time  Match

10:35 AM    20   (#22) Hideki Matsuyama vs (#49) Martin Kaymer

Everyone will be picking Kaymer but I think that Matsuyama could beat him.  Kaymer has been indifferent this year while Matsuyama has blossomed so look for this to be an upset.

My pick – Matsuyama

 

Time  Match

9:05 AM    11   (#T8) Dustin Johnson vs (#62) Peter Hanson

Here are two careers going in different directions.  Both had great careers ahead of them before both were hurt last year.  But Johnson has come back strongly and returned to form while Hanson has struggled.  Look for the struggle to continue for Hanson as Johnson beats him handly.

My pick – Johnson

 

Time  Match

9:15 AM    12   (#30) Victor Dubuisson vs (#41) Kevin Streelman

After finishing strong at the Hyudai, Kevin Streelman has struggled. As for Dubuisson he has come over the America and been OK.  Two rookies should have a good match, have to toss a coin for the winner.

My pick – Streelman, no think it’s going to be Dubuisson, yes Dubuisson

 

Time  Match

7:45 AM     3   (#14) Bubba Watson vs (#57) Mikko Ilonen

On paper this should be a sure thing for Bubba, but as we know you can’t take anything for granite with Watson.  If he isn’t careful he can get beat, but I think Bubba will jump on Mikko early and go on to win.

My pick – Watson

 

Time  Match

7:55 AM     4   (#25) Keegan Bradley vs (#46) Jonas Blixt

Bradley has been very inconsistent this year and hasn’t played well in this event losing to Marcus Fraser last year and Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2012.  Blixt hasn’t played well either this year but think he can get it together to beat Bradley.

My pick – Blixt

 

So there you have it with my picks. Please give us your feedback on who you think will be upset victors.  Always happens and you can expect that a dozen guys you least expect will win on Wednesday, that’s what makes it so hard to pick the field.

This week’s posts:

• Sometime on Monday we will have a look and breakdown of all 32 matches.  We will also have video breakdowns of all the matches.
• We will also have our “Who should win” column after play on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday so join us everyday this week.