Mahan Takes Down McIlroy in Accenture World Match Play

35 birdies in 96 holes is pretty good golf. Certainly good enough today for Hunter Mahan to best Rory McIlroy 2 and 1 and capture his 2nd  WGC event, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. His efforts landed him a cool $1.4 million along with the accompanying hardware. Mahan was 4 up through 10 holes after a stretch of taking 4 out of 5 on the front nine. McIlroy  applied some pressure on the back nine, but Mahan continued to answer with timely birdies. It was more than obvious that Mahan was the best player here this week. Mahan defeated Mark Wilson in the semis to reach the final match. Wilson was the only opponent Mahan had that wasn't a former Ryder or Presidents Cup member.

Mahan's win denied McIlroy the #1 spot in the OWGR. That I assume will be left for Luke Donald who packed his rental car here on Wednesday. There's no clear cut #1 in this writer's mind. I'd give it to McIlroy anyway since he defeated Lee Westwood, #3, in today's semi-final, and he has a major championship. Mark Wilson defeated Westwood in the "kiss-your-sister" match for 3rd place. In sum I've always thought you shouldn't be considered a world #1 without a major.

Average Golfer's been on a bit of a break of late. Expect some renewed interest as winter passes where we're located and I can see the sun for more than two hours a day. The Honda Classic is up next with a stronger field than one normally sees at this weak sister event. All 2011 major winners will be there along with Westwood and Woods. May be worth the effort.







Swing hard, they'll make more.

Kaymer/Donald Final at Accenture Match Play

Martin Kaymer sealed the OWGR # 1 spot and bought himself a ticket to tomorrow's final at the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship, besting Bubba Watson on the last hole of the semi-final. The match was neck and neck most of the way with Kaymer calmly sinking a 5 footer on 18 for the win. The German had earlier beaten Miguel Angel Jimenez 1 up, surviving a furious rally by the Spaniard who had been down most of the match. Watson outlasted, and I mean outlasted, JB Holmes after having been down five holes through ten played. Holmes imploded in the style he'd done years earlier with Tiger Woods. Holmes is a snail on the course and never was it so evident as today. 45 minutes to play two holes as Holmes made side trips through the Arizona desert. At lease no one will have to suffer through a repeat Holmes performance in tomorrow's consolation match.  

Kaymer will face Luke Donald in the finale. Donald surgically dissected both Ryan Moore and Matt Kuchar to earn his berth in the championship match. He whipped Moore 5 and 4, had some lunch, then returned to barbecue Kuchar 6 and 5. All Donald does this week is hit greens and make virtually every putt he looks at. Good formula for match play.  

Expect an interesting match with a good contrast in styles. Donald's precision vs. Kaymer's power. The early word is that some extreme weather may be passing through the venue with a threat of snow. I'd hate to see weather make a difference, but Kaymer's power would pay off in difficult conditions. That being said, I'm pulling for Donald. 






Swing hard, look up,

Watson - Holmes Bombfest on Tap at Accenture World Match Play

Hide the women and children tomorrow, or at least cover their eyes. Bubba Watson and JB Holmes will tee it up together in a quarterfinal match at the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship. Watson destroyed two-time winner Geoff Ogilvy, 6 and 4. Holmes beat Jason Day 1 up to set up tomorrow's slugfest. Should be the must see match of the day. On a course playing up to 7,800 yds. both Watson and Holmes are approaching most greens with wedges. Nice advantage on the firm surfaces. Should lead to a whole new mob of amateurs swinging out of their shoes. Fun.

Also tomorrow, Matt Kuchar vs YE Yang. Yang dispatched Graeme McDowell 3 and 2, while Kuchar bested Phil-slayer Rickie Fowler 2 and 1. Miguel Angel Jimenez meets Martin Kaymer in the "opposites attract" match, Jimenez having sent home Ben Crane 7 and 6, almost mirroring the tattooing Crane laid on Rory McIlroy yesterday. Ben apparently had some sort of experience overnight and couldn't channel his inner golfer. Kaymer bested Hunter Mahan 2 and1 with Mahan doing his best to reenact his chili-dipped chip shot from the Ryder Cup on the 17th hole. Finally Luke Donald will meet Ryan Moore in the last quarterfinal. Donald sending the 17 yr. old Manassero home 3 and 2, while Moore outlasted Nick Watney in 19 holes in the only match to go overtime today.      

Love to see The Mechanic send Kaymer home.Other than that, strictly red, white, and blue. Watson's been so smooth, he looks unbeatable. Of course the same could have been said about Ben Crane yesterday. Match play, gotta see it.   








Swing hard, look up,  

Someone Moved The Furniture On Tiger Woods.

We've all been there. 2 AM, thirsty as hell. Leave the lights off, don't wake the family, down the stairs on remote control, just like we've done a thousand times before. It's the only thing in the world we can do blind. Past the first chair, ease by the couch, into the dining room. Your tongue is stuck to the roof of your dry mouth like a week-old band aid. You can taste the OJ and you're still a good 20 feet from the fridge. Navigate one last room and you're home free. Disaster. The computer desk right in the @%#&ing crucial spot(s). Who vacuums behind that damn thing anyway?

That's where Tiger Woods found himself after his 19th hole tee shot nearly left the planet. After a match equalizing birdie on 18, one would believe a 3 wood to the fairway would be child's play for the legend and keeping with his assassin persona. Not in the cards. The wayward 3 wood led to two more cripplers just to reach the fairway and double bogey, a very un-Woodsian finish to his opening round match with Thomas Bjorn at the Accenture World Match Play Championship. Truth is, neither player impressed, it's just that Woods impressed less. They both hit shots that were stunning in their ineptness and for a while I wasn't so sure either of them had a room booked for tonight.

Back to the woodshed for Mr. Woods. Hasn't found it yet. Welcome to golf.    


Best Round #2 Match to follow..............  Mickelson-Fowler






Swing hard, look up,

2011 WGC Accenture Match Play Championship - Odds and Expert Picks

Golf is tough enough to handicap. Match play is brutally impossible. Still, we soldier on. 64 men enter the cage, one exits. The vagaries are numerous. One bad hole doesn't eliminate anyone the way a multi-stroke deficit could crumble lesser opposition. A couple of lucky or bad bounces at the right or wrong time could be curtains and a weekend off. One day, one round with or against a hot putter could seal fate. That's the beauty of the deal and why we watch. The biggest risk of all this year, as always, is for the network covering the event. NBC wags will be holding their collective breaths for the first three rounds of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship praying for weekend pairings of players with gravitas. I'm thinkin' Brendan Jones and Richard Green aren't at the top of the wish list. 

As usual we'll list some Ladbrokes odds for the favorites and make some particularly insightful picks. They offer individual match odds as well as odds to win the whole shebang. I stress again though, this is a flat out crap shoot. Any success is coincidental and appreciated.  Download Your Blank Bracket

Here we go...



Phil Mickelson, 14/1 - This ain't Phil's cup of tea. Should get by Brendan Jones, then ??? Home by Friday.

Tiger Woods, 14/1 - John Cook says he's found it at home. He's not home. Tough bracket with Casey, Watson, D. Johnson Ogilvy, etc. Home on Friday.

Paul Casey, 16/1 - My pick to take it all. Good match player. Playing well. That's the list.

Lee Westwood, 16/1 - Tons of match play experience. World #1. Slow start to 2011. Can't get by Casey.

Martin Kaymer, 16/1 - Hard to argue. Putting wins these things, especially par savers. Could win.

Rory McIlroy, 16/1 - 1st time in states in 2011. Has the game. Possible.

Steve Stricker, 25/1 - Won 9 years ago. Not much since in this event. Would take a lot.

Luke Donald, 25/1 - Can't get by the 3rd round here. Don't see the streak ending.    

Dustin Johnson, 25/1 - Blow up hole wouldn't kill. Need a steely putter late in the rounds. Doubt it.

Graeme McDowell, 25/1 - Tough guy to against in format. I like him after Casey.

Rickie Fowler, 33/1 - Virgin appearance here. May do well, don't expect win.   

Matt Kuchar, 33/1 - Probably not his best format. Home by Thursday.    

Geoff Ogilvy, 33/1 - Big odds for two time winner. Finger OK. Will make noise.

Retief Goosen, 33/1 - I can never get a handle on Goose since US Opens. Flip a coin.  

Hunter Mahan, 33/1 - I keep waiting for the break out. Still waiting.   

Jim Furyk, 33/1 - As we know, fierce. Strangely mediocre at match play. Don't think so.

Ian Poulter, 33/1 - Huge odds for a defender. Better than he looks. Should make the weekend.    

Ernie Els, 33/1 - The "Big Easy I Don't Know". Must be a South African thing. Semis here in '01. Nothing since. No reason to expect differently.  


Average Golfer Pick

Paul Casey over Graeme McDowell


Keep your eyes on....  Stenson, (previous champ, late fill-in for Taniguchi),   Poulter, Rose, Watney, and Overton, (birdie machine, always helps in match play).


Bet early and often. Register pick complaints with Complaint Department, (Open Weds., Mar 23, 4:00-4:10 AM).







 Swing hard, look up,