BlogWho will win Thursday’s matches?

A look at Thursday’s 16 matches, who will win?

So let’s look at our matches for Thursday, again we will go from bracket to bracket starting with the Bobby Jones bracket:

Bobby Jones bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

Time  Match

11:44      45  (#3) Henrik Stenson vs (#35) Louis Oosthuizen

Should be a good match, both European tour players have not played well in the last month as both finished 2013 with injuries.  Oosthuizen did start his year with a victory at the Volvo Champions and he seemed to play better on Wednesday as Stenson had to stage a comeback for his victory, the first match he has won since the tournament switch over to Dove Mountain.  Both seem to have problems at Dove Mountain so this match is probably a toss-up

My pick – Oosthuizen

Time  Match

11:56 AM    46  (#19) Brandt Snedeker vs (#20) Webb Simpson

Snedeker had a tough match only getting the lead at the 20th hole, the perfect time to lead.  As for Simpson he had an easy time with Thongchai Jaidee.  This should be another good match with nobody having an advantage.  I think that Simpson could be the better match player but in looking at their Ryder Cup and President Cup records both haven’t won a singles match.

My pick – Simpson

Time  Match

10:08 AM    37  (#11) Jason Day vs (#43) Billy Horschel

Horschel had a very easy day winning 6 & 5 against Jamie Donaldson, while Day had to grind it out all day in his 2 up win over Thorbjorn Olesen.  I always am weary of those that have big wins, they tend to be a bit flat the next day.  Day has a lot of experience in this championship winning 8 matches in four years, all of that coming at Dove Mountain so the advantage goes to Day

My pick – Day

Time  Match

10:20 AM    38   (#59) George Coetzee vs (#44) Patrick Reed

Coetzee and Reed had totally different matches, first Stricker was sluggish against Coetzee who won with only two birdies, over his last three holes.  Reed played a great back nine making three birdies and a big five-footer on the 18th hole to seal his 1 up win.  Reed had a great college record in match play going undefeated in match play in two NCAA Championships which should give Reed the advantage.  I see this match going to the bitter end with Reed winning and becoming the longshot favorite

My pick – Coetzee

Ben Hogan bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

Time  Match

10:56 AM    41   (#7) Rory McIlroy vs (#39) Harris English

McIlroy will be the big favorite, but he better not rest on what he reads with his morning Wheaties because Harris English could give him a good match.  Both McIlroy and English had easy first round victories, McIlroy was 3 under while English was six under with no bogies so English could pull an upset.  Still I think McIlroy is the winner not only of this match but the rest of them this week

My pick – McIlroy

Time  Match

11:08 AM    42   (#16) Charl Schwartzel vs (#23) Jim Furyk

Jim Furyk was bogey free in his 2 & 1 victory over Chris Kirk with three birdies while Schwartzel only made one bogey and five birdies.  I just can’t see Furyk going far in this event, his record has been mediocre at best in Match Play.  Can’t see Schwartzel losing this, should have an easy day

My pick – Schwartzel

Time  Match

9:20 AM    33   (#T8)  Sergio Garcia vs (#31) Bill Haas

Haas had an easy first day while Garcia had to play his butt off to beat Marc Leishman on the 4th extra hole.  Haas won his first match but I can’t see him beating Garcia.  The only thing that can beat Garcia is Garcia himself but for Thursday I think he can handle Haas

My pick – Garcia

Time  Match

9:32 AM    34   (#56) Rickie Fowler vs (#24) Jimmy Walker

This is your David and Goliath match of the week.  That’s because in 2014 Fowler has probably played the worst of anyone in this field, missing his last three cuts.  But for Walker, he’s had a career year with three wins.  I still wonder that Walker will come down a bit from his great pace but don’t see it coming on Thursday as I see him having an easy day against Fowler

My pick – Walker

Gary Player bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

Time  Match

12:08 PM    47   (#5) Justin Rose vs (#34) Ernie Els

Both played ugly golf and were lucky to win, I just have to think that the same could happen on Thursday.  Both haven’t played well in this event, Els use to be the king of match play when the Volvo Match Play Championship was at Wentworth, but he hasn’t shown us much since.  I always shows bias toward Els, will do it again in thinking that he will be the best in the match of U.S. Open champions.

My pick – Els

Time  Match

12:20 PM    48   (#18) Jason Dufner vs (#50) Matteo Manassero

Dufner started slowly and was able to catch Stallings and beat him in extra holes while Manassero played bogey-free golf in handing Luke Donald a 5 & 4 loss.  Can see Manassero continue his good play and with Dufner playing in-different golf see an easy win for Manassero

My pick – Manassero

Time  Match

10:32 AM    39   (#10) Matt Kuchar vs (#29) Ryan Moore

This could be a very good match, Kuchar improving his record to 16-3 in this event.  Still Moore played great on Wednesday playing bogey-free golf and never trailing in a match in which Moore was better than his 1 up victory.  I really smell an upset here.

My pick – Moore

Time  Match

10:44 AM    40    (#13) Jordan Spieth vs (#26) Thomas Bjorn

Talk about youth and experience, this will be an interesting match.  On paper Spieth is a better player than Bjorn, who will read this and laugh because he has so much experience it’s not going to be a easy match for Spieth.  If Spieth doesn’t do the deed early and he gets behind, Bjorn won’t let him back in this match

My pick – Spieth

Sam Snead bracket – Tee Times – All Times Local

Time  Match

11:20 AM    43   (#65) Richard Sterne vs (#33) Hunter Mahan

Both played great on Wednesday but I still think that Mahan will make it to the weekend and could possibly win this again.  One thing for sure, Sterne will be looking for a bit of redemption.  He faced Mahan last year in the second round 4 & 3 and also was a loser to Mahan in the first round in 2008, 4 & 3.  Sorry Richard, your going down for a third time to Mahan on Thursday, he is playing too good.

My pick – Mahan

Time  Match

11:32 AM    44   (#17) Graeme McDowell vs (#22) Hideki Matsuyama

Both had tough matches, honestly McDowell should be watching the Thursday matches from his home.  Matsuyama beat a better player in Martin Kaymer and I can see him doing it again on Thursday

My pick – Matsuyama

Time  Match

9:44 AM    35   (#62) Peter Hanson vs (#30) Victor Dubuisson

Now on paper Dubuisson has had a much better last year, but Hanson showed that maybe he is heathy again and could carry on like he did in 2010 and 2011.  This match will be a toss up and I can’t see one player having any advantage.  So take a coin and flip it on this match

My pick – Dubuisson because I love longshots

Time  Match

9:56 AM     36   (#14) Bubba Watson vs (#46) Jonas Blixt

On paper another of these matches in which Watson will be the big favorite.  Blixt is a better player than people realize and won’t step down on Watson so Watson better play great from the first tee onward.  Think this will be the upset of the day, Watson has thrown snake eyes for a while and I can see him rolling a seven on Thursday.

My pick – Blixt, yes I typed this right.

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 some upsets to happen on Thursday, that’s what makes it so hard to pick the field.

This week’s posts:

• We will also have our “Who should win” column after play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday so join us everyday this week.