2012 Accenture Match Play Discussion Thread

[Shorty]

I may seem uncharitable, but I really don't rate the WGC matchplay.

It just seems to me like a little bit of a lottery and the winners are often people who struggle in 72 hole tournaments - but that's the beauty of matchplay, I suppose.

I find it a boring tournament.

[brocks]

I may seem uncharitable, but I really don't rate the WGC matchplay. It just seems to me like a little bit of a lottery and the winners are often people who struggle in 72 hole tournaments - but that's the beauty of matchplay, I suppose. I find it a boring tournament.

Interesting that last year's winner was Steady Eddie Luke Donald. I would think that a more volatile player would win, because a quad isn't any worse than a par if your opponent gets a birdie, but if you make more birdies, you tend to win more holes.

[Shindig]

I may seem uncharitable, but I really don't rate the WGC matchplay.

It just seems to me like a little bit of a lottery and the winners are often people who struggle in 72 hole tournaments - but that's the beauty of matchplay, I suppose.

I find it a boring tournament.

Well, Match Play is a different form of golf. Of course, stroke play is far better suited to television, particularly in drawing in casual or personality fans. I mean, I would really enjoy a Matt Kuchar vs Webb Simpson finale, but it wouldn't move the needle among the general population the way a Watson/Woods finale would. However, as for winners who struggle in 72 hole tournaments... other than Stenson, is that really the case lately? Donald, Poulter, Ogilvy, Woods... to a lesser extent, Toms. You really have to go back ten years to the Sutherland / McCarron finale to find one where the winner (and runner up, for that matter) weren't guys who won stroke play with any regularity. And Stenson's not exactly a slouch (although he hasn't won much since his WGC victory). Of course, my favorite match play moment wasn't in the WGC event. It was... Shaun Micheel I think, who beat Tiger Woods at a European match play tournament in the opening round, and then in his interview said he had to go do laundry. We all thought the same thing, but it turns out he had packed his clothing on the expectation that he wouldn't advance to the second round.

[mcfc_nick]

im pulling for a Rory V Tiger/DJ final as at the minute theyre the 3 golfers i like to watch the most and wouldnt mind seeing them battle it out. if one of them 3 or Jason Day wins it i'll be happy

[Montezumasdaddy]

Is there anywhere online to play a "March Madness" style bracket game? I think that would be a lot of fun.

[Shindig]

Whoops, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano may have just pulled an Ames: http://tourreport.pgatour.com/2012/02/20/tigers-foe-i-think-hes-beatable/

[jamo]

Whoops, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano may have just pulled an Ames: http://tourreport.pgatour.com/2012/02/20/tigers-foe-i-think-hes-beatable/

Do it Gonzalo, do it! Maybe Tiger needs a kick in the ass.

[bplewis24]

I'm hoping to watch the first three rounds without seeing a single shot from the Crane/Watson pairing.  Wish me luck.

Brandon

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by Shindig

Whoops, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano may have just pulled an Ames: http://tourreport.pgatour.com/2012/02/20/tigers-foe-i-think-hes-beatable/

There is a big difference between making comments about a beatable Tiger now then when Ames did it in Tiger's prime.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Shorty

I may seem uncharitable, but I really don't rate the WGC matchplay.

It just seems to me like a little bit of a lottery and the winners are often people who struggle in 72 hole tournaments - but that's the beauty of matchplay, I suppose.

I find it a boring tournament.

I find the concept interesting, but the actual event and coverage leaves me cold (pun about the weather at the 2011 (and 2010?) event not intended). When Peter Jacobsen did his ode to the local flora and fauna using players nicknames and/or surnames the whole thing jumped the shark.

[jhwmusic]

I feel like Captain Kirk trying to explain a joke to Spock. I bet your friends all call you "Mr. Chuckles."

ha ha! good one! Seriously, How could they have not seen you were joking?! You even put a :-D at the end and then another one in your explanation...and shorty still didn't understand it was a joke. Not to mention Phil has had Tiger's number for a few years now...he loves going up against Tiger. Come on people!

[Beachcomber]

I went out on a limb and picked Luke Donald and Tiger Woods playing each other in the championship match.  With Tiger winning.  With the 3rd place winner being Sergio Garcia over Steve Stricker.  I know, I know... Very unique picks! :D

Here is a little glimpse at some of the 'upset' picks I made though:

Bobby Jones

Kyle Stanley #13 seed over KJ Choi #4 seed

Kyle Stanley #13 seed over Brandt Snedeker #5 seed in the 2nd round

Robert Rock # 15 seed over Adam Scott #2 seed

Jim Furyk #14 seed over Dustin Johnson #3 seed

Jim Furyk #14 seed over Thomas Bjorn #6 seed in the 2nd round

Ben Hogan

Greg Chalmers #16 seed over Martin Kaymer #1 seed

Ben Crane #12 seed over Bubba Watson #5 seed

Zach Johnson #11 seed over Hunter Mahan #6 seed

Zach Johnson #11 seed over Graeme McDowell #3 seed in 2nd round

Gary Player

No real upsets picked in this bracket other than Sergio Garcia #4 seed beating Rory McIlroy #1 seed in the 3rd round.

Sam Snead

Fred Jacobson #9 seed over Lee Westwood #1 seed in the 2nd round

Martin Laird #10 seed over Webb Simpson #2 seed in the 2nd round

Justin Rose #6 seed over Bill Hass #3 seed in the 2nd round

Can't wait to watch these guys battle it out over the next week.

[BunkerShot]

Here is a quote I copied from a TGC article about Tigers opponent Wednesday in match play, I was impressed because it was not bitter or hostile but very neutral and professionally said. And it's kinda how I see it also.

“What I’m sure about is he’s not going to be as dominant as what he used to be,” Fernandez-Castano said. “I think there are a lot of young guys, like Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Rickie Fowler, guys that have beaten him. They know the feeling of beating Tiger.

“He might be the No. 1 player again. He might win majors again, but I don’t think he will be as dominant as he was, like in 2000 and those times. Maybe I’m wrong, anything is possible with that guy, he’s so good."

[BunkerShot]

Here is a quote I copied from a TGC article about Tigers opponent Wednesday in match play, I was impressed because it was not bitter or hostile but very neutral and professionally said. And it's kinda how I see it also.

“What I’m sure about is he’s not going to be as dominant as what he used to be,” Fernandez-Castano said. “I think there are a lot of young guys, like Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Rickie Fowler, guys that have beaten him. They know the feeling of beating Tiger.

“He might be the No. 1 player again. He might win majors again, but I don’t think he will be as dominant as he was, like in 2000 and those times. Maybe I’m wrong, anything is possible with that guy, he’s so good."

[jhwmusic]

I went out on a limb and picked Luke Donald and Tiger Woods playing each other in the championship match.  With Tiger winning.  With the 3rd place winner being Sergio Garcia over Steve Stricker.  I know, I know... Very unique picks! :D

Here is a little glimpse at some of the 'upset' picks I made though:

Bobby Jones

Kyle Stanley #13 seed over KJ Choi #4 seed

Kyle Stanley #13 seed over Brandt Snedeker #5 seed in the 2nd round

Robert Rock # 15 seed over Adam Scott #2 seed

Jim Furyk #14 seed over Dustin Johnson #3 seed

Jim Furyk #14 seed over Thomas Bjorn #6 seed in the 2nd round

Ben Hogan

Greg Chalmers #16 seed over Martin Kaymer #1 seed

Ben Crane #12 seed over Bubba Watson #5 seed

Zach Johnson #11 seed over Hunter Mahan #6 seed

Zach Johnson #11 seed over Graeme McDowell #3 seed in 2nd round

Gary Player

No real upsets picked in this bracket other than Sergio Garcia #4 seed beating Rory McIlroy #1 seed in the 3rd round.

Sam Snead

Fred Jacobson #9 seed over Lee Westwood #1 seed in the 2nd round

Martin Laird #10 seed over Webb Simpson #2 seed in the 2nd round

Justin Rose #6 seed over Bill Hass #3 seed in the 2nd round

Can't wait to watch these guys battle it out over the next week.

Sergio is gonna take it all!!

[sevesgod]

I m tipping Garcia, espeacially after his 64 on Sunday. Think Tiger will be in with a shout as i still feel he is an intimadating prospect in match play.

[Zeph]

Why would he be bitter and hostile?

[jamo]

Brackets to fill out: http://games.golfweek.com/bracket.asp?ID=4