Luke Donald - WGC Accenture Match Play Champion

He never saw the 18th hole all week. He never trailed in any of his six matches. He beat the newly crowned world # 1 player Martin Kaymer 3 and 2 in the final. He ascended to #3 in the world rankings. Quite a week for Luke Donald. $1.4 million on top of that won't hurt either.  

Laser iron shots and impeccable putting were Donald's secrets. That they held up for six rounds is amazing. The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship hasn't seen this sort of domination.Donald's always been known as sort of nice player, but an underachiever based on talent. He referenced that in the post match interview,  "It feels amazing," Donald said. "I had a bit of a monkey on my back. I hadn't won in the U.S. in five years."

Overnight snow gave Dove Mountain a bizarre look. Not that it's nor bizarre in it's own right. The place looks like someone dropped outdoor carpeting on the moon. A mid-round sleet storm just added to the weirdness exuded by the place. I can think of twenty better spots to hold an event of this magnitude without even trying. I hope the rumors of a move are true.

Matt Kuchar prevailed over Bubba Watson 2 and 1 in the consolation match.  

Lots of compelling golf. Well worth the watch. Next up, The Honda Classic. Pretty good field for what used to be weak sister event. 






Swing hard, look up,

Ogilvy Outplays Casey at Accenture Match Play

Who is the best match play golfer in the world right now? If you answer anyone but Geoff Ogilvy, you're just not paying attention. Ogilvy won his 2nd WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in four years, to go along with a 2nd, by besting Paul Casey 4 and 3 in the 36 hole finale. So dominating was Ogilvy he shot 31 on today's front nine. He converted 70 of 74 putts. He never trailed in the last 62 holes of the tournament, and he carded no bogeys in the last 57. Any questions?

Ogilvy pocketed a cool 1.4 million dollars for his efforts. His world golf ranking improved from 8th to 4th. He has Sergio and Phil hearing footsteps that are getting louder with every passing week. As we head into the meat of the PGA season Ogilvy stands to raise his status to "who knows" levels if he maintains his excellence. Hey, it's not his fault that Tiger got knocked out in the 2nd round.



Til' next,

*Stewart Cink's holed bunker shot on the 18th hole got him 3rd place by besting Ross Fisher, 1 up.

Ogilvy/Casey Final at Accenture Match Play

Two neighbors and buddies at Whisper Rock decided to make the 90 mile trek to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, AZ, and play a practice round in advance of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. That little trip appears to have paid off in spades. Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey, the two friends mentioned, have a date in the 36 hole final tomorrow. They took decidedly different routes in the semifinals with the same result. Ogilvy took care of the last American in the field, Stewart Cink, 4 and 2, in a match that was never really close. Casey, on the other hand, dismissed fellow Brit Ross Fisher, 2 and 1, in an interminable match that both players seemed hell bent on throwing away. They combined for 23 strokes on holes 15 and 16 where combined par was 14. Casey ended the marathon on 17 with a conservatively played par on a 463 yard hole where he hit an iron off the tee. The slates are wiped clean however for tomorrow's final. Full tournament scoring.

Based on his winning this event before, Ogilvy would have to be considered the favorite. He has a major championship under his belt as well. Nevertheless, Casey is a bothersome opponent. He has a solid game in all aspects and is used to being in the winner's circle, just not in the US. Expect a solid match with Ogilvy's experience proving out in the end. Phew, last prediction for the week and probably for some time.



Til' next,

McIlroy the New Story at Accenture Match Play.

With Tiger Woods' comeback relegated to yesterday's news and top seeds dropping like Newton's apple, 19 year old Irishman Rory McIlroy's march through the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship field is as fresh as a prom date. Just off his victory in a to be unnamed Mideast tournament, (Average Golfer policy), young Rory is blasting through his more experienced brethren like it's his birthright. Today's victim was yesterday's Tiger-slayer Tim Clark. Rory dispatched him 4 and 3 in convincing fashion. He had 5 birdies in his abbreviated 15 holes and was 4 up through six. Next up, previous champ Geoff Ogilvy, who doused the previously red hot Camilo Villegas, 2 and 1. Villegas made a hint of a comeback after being down three after 13. Bogeys by Villegas on the 16th and 17th however brought his rally to a sputtering stop. That sets up tomorrow's most interesting tangle. The experienced former champ Ogilvy and the upstart McIlroy.

ROUND #4 MATCHUPS AND PICKS.

Stewart Cink vs Ernie Els - Cink just survives. Won't survive Els.
Rory McIlroy vs Geoff Ogilvy - Oh, what the hell, Rory.
Justin Leonard vs Ross Fisher - Fisher showed he can play. Leonard wins.
Paul Casey vs Sean O'Hair - O'Hair impresses. Casey wins this one.


Tune in early tomorrow morning as the quarterfinal matches begin at 10:00 AM, EST on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the semifinals at 2:00 PM EST.

Average Golfer was a pitiful 3 for 8 with yesterday's picks. Sincere apologies to anyone that was foolish enough to place credence in my picks. My sympathy for anyone that's crazy enough to bet on match play.



Til' next,

Tim Clark Fells Woods - Top Seeds Vanquished at Accenture Match Play.

At #2 Phil Mickelson is the highest remaining seed left at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Tiger Woods was thoroughly dispatched by Tim Clark 4 and 2. Clark was 6 under through his required 15 holes and took control on the back nine. Woods' drive on 15 went OB off the cart path ending any hope of a miracle comeback. The remaining #1 today, Vijay Singh, was sent home by Luke Donald on the 19th hole of their match. Peter Hanson at #15 was the lowest seed remaining, having beaten Stephen Ames 2 and 1.

All that sets up tomorrow's Day #3 action with the following match-ups and Average Golfer predictions. Round #2 full field final scores. I was a blase 8-8 on Day #2 picks making me 24-24 overall.

ROUND #3 PICKS

Clark, 8 vs McIlroy, 4 - Clark was flawless. Like him in a close one.
Ogilvy, 2 vs Villegas, 3 - Camilo romped in his first two. I like Ogilvy.
Donald, 9 vs Els, 4 - Els here, although Luke wouldn't surprise.
Mickelson, 2 vs Cink, 6 - Cink extended both matches. Phil wins.
Poulter, 8 vs O'Hair, 12 - O'Hair's tricky. Poulter here.
Hanson, 15 vs Casey, 6 - Keep the 15 dream alive. Hanson.
Fisher, 9 vs Furyk, 4 - Furyk, of course.
Leonard, 7 vs Wilson, 11 - Leonard too much.

Maybe as the field narrows I can increase my pick percentage. Maybe not. Now we'll see how the weekend shapes up. You know the networks are pulling for Phil and.........probably Furyk for the final.



Til' next,

WGC-Accenture Match Play - Day #1 Winners and Losers, Day #2 Picks.

Average Golfer was a big loser today as he went an abysmal 16 out of 32 in his Day #1 picks. In my humble opinion, the day's biggest winners were Oliver Wilson, Davis Love III, Ross Fisher, Matthew Goggin, Peter Hanson, Boo Weekley, Charl Schwartzel, and Hunter Mahan. All were underdogs in their respective contests. Biggest losers were Sergio Garcia, and anyone that lost to the biggest winners. So, we'll have to make a quick turn around and ace the 2nd round. Can't be any worse than the coin flip results I had today. Day #1 Full final match results. Here we go.......

DAY #2 PICKS

Woods vs Clark - Woods emphatically.
McIlvoy vs Mahan - McIlvoy in a squeaker.
Ogilvy vs Katayama - Ogilvy's experience here.
Villegas vs Jimenez - Taking the wily Mechanic.
Singh vs Donald - Singh rounding into form.
Els vs Stricker - Stricker in a close one.
Mickelson vs Johnson - Mickelson, but not confident about it.
Westwood vs Cink - Hunch, Cink.
Schwartzel vs Poulter - Hmm...Poulter
Weekley vs O'Hair - Weekley, but barely.
Hanson vs Ames - Ames in this one.
Goggin vs Casey - Casey.
Perez vs Fisher - Unlikely duo. Perez
Furyk vs Kaymer - USA, USA! Furyk.
Love III vs Johnson - Battle of buddies. Leonard.
Kim vs Wilson - Kim, I didn't think he'd be sharp. I was wrong.

Plenty of upsets just proves the fragility of match play. A player could lose as many as 4 or 5 shots to an opponent and still lose just a hole or two. The cream usually rises to the top over the course of a four day stroke play tournament, but today a ton of cream sank to the bottom of the cup.

Stay tuned. Should be fascinating to watch this thing unfold further.



Til' next,

WGC-Accenture Match Play - Odds and Expert Picks, Part II

Now for the 2nd half of the field prognostications for the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship. If you're wondering where the 1st half is, here's the link. Let's get to it......


PLAYER DIVISION

Sergio Garcia, 1 vs Charles Schwartzel, 16 - Sergio wins at least one. Start with this one.
Ian Poulter, 8 vs Jeev Mikha Singh, 9 - I'm going with the lesser of the two Singhs.
Justin Rose, 4 vs Boo Weekley, 13 - Rose plays terribly on US soil. Weekley here.
Adam Scott, 5 vs Sean O'Hair, 12 - May be closer than expected. Scott.
Robert Karlsson, 2 vs Peter Hanson, 15 - Karlsson overrated here, but still wins this one.
Alvaro Quiros, 7 vs Stephen Ames, 10 - Quiros. Don't ask why.
Kenny Perry, 3 vs Matthew Goggin, 14 - For Perry the fairytale continues.
Paul Casey, 6 vs Aaron Baddeley, 11 - Upset here. Badds beats Brit.

SNEAD DIVISION

Padraig Harrington, 1 vs Pat Perez, 16 - Perez rounding into form, but Paddy's too much.
Robert Allenby, 8 vs Ross Fisher, 9 - Allenby. Could go deep into this event.
Jim Furyk, 4 vs Anders Hansen, 13 - Furyk....tough, gritty, irrepressible.
Martin Kaymer, 5 vs Stuart Appleby, 12 - Should be a good match. Appleby in the upset.
Henrik Stenson, 2 vs Davis Love III, 15 - Want Love, pick Stenson.
Justin Leonard, 7 vs Andres Romero, 10 - Leonard's experience tops the young upstart.
Anthony Kim, 3 vs Wen-Tang Lin, 14 - Kim, if his heads screwed on straight.
K.J. Choi, 6 vs Oliver Wilson, 11 - Choi prevails.


There you have 'em. Free expert picks considering all possibilities and the vagaries of match play. A couple of bad holes and it could be all over for any of them. The broadcasters are praying it's not a Kieldson/Quiros finale on Sunday.

And remember.....it's more exciting to bet with money you can't afford to lose. Better yet, bet with borrowed money. Then it will really feel like a win.




Til' next,

*Don't touch this dial throughout the tournament. Average Golfer will be posting updates and changed picks based on my success or lack thereof.

WGC-Accenture World Match Play - Odds and Expert Picks, Part I

And you were expecting expert picks. Self proclaimed expert that is. Now it's time to handicap the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Be there or be square.

You should begin by printing your own brackets, available here in pdf. form. Now give this a little thought. Resist the temptation to pencil in Tiger Woods as the winner and working your brackets backwards. Consult the current odds at Ladbrokes, one of the world's foremost bookmakers. Tiger Woods going off at 1/5 should tell you something about how he's been missed in the arena. Use every available tool at your disposal.

Here's Average Golfer's accurate take on the Jones and Hogan divisions. Snead and Player divisions to follow tomorrow. I will reveal the winner.......

JONES DIVISION

Tiger Woods, 1 vs Brendan Jones, 16 - No brainer, Woods.
Tim Clark, 8 vs Retief Goosen, 9 - Close, but it's Goosen.
Rory McIlvoy, 4 vs Louis Oosthuizen, 13 - McIlroy because I don't want to type Louis' name again.
Mike Weir, 5 vs Hunter Mahan, 12 - Weir, steady in match play.
Geoff Ogilvy, 2 vs Kevin Sutherland, 15 - Ogilvy of course.
Trevor Immelman, 7 vs Shingo Katayama, 10 - Shingo in mild upset.
Camilo Villegas, 3 vs Rod Pampling, 14 - Pampling in a major upset.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, 6 vs Rory Sabbatini, 11 - The Mechanic in a close one.

HOGAN DIVISION

Vijay Singh, 1 vs Soren Kielsen, 16 - Singh here, but he's still hurt.
Ben Curtis, 8 vs Luke Donald, 9 - Tough one. Donald.
Ernie Els, 4 vs Soren Hansen, 13 - Els naturally.
Steve Stricker, 5 vs Dustin Johnson, 12 - Johnson in an upset. Big hitter, lotsa birdies.
Phil Mickelson, 2 vs Angel Cabrera, 15 - Phil, I think.....
Zach Johnson, 7 vs Graeme McDowell, 10 - Zach, but iffy.
Lee Westwood, 3 vs Pravad Marksaeng, 14 - Westwood. Must admit, never heard of Marksaeng.
Stewart Cink, 6 vs Richard Sterne, 11 - Cink. 2nd last year.

Thank me in advance, and remember....only bet with money you can't afford to lose, otherwise it's meaningless!



Til' next,

Tiger Woods to Return at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

The wait is over. Tiger Woods announced today on his website that he will return to competitive golf next week at the WGC- Accenture Match Play Championship. Woods will play world #64 Brendan Jones in his first competitive round since year ending knee surgery after last year's US Open. The event has a new home this year, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, in Marana, Ariz.. Naturally, Woods defends.


Til' next,