World Match Play Chatter Vol. 1

Stellar work and almost awesome execution by Golfweek to offer match play brackets and prizes. I had a blast filling it out even if they don't let you pick semi-final match winners for some reason.

I'm in agreement (or at least my picks reflect) with Huggan and Elling who touched on the match play in this week's scrum:

Huggan: I always like Geoff Ogilvy at the match play. Twice a winner and once the runner-up, he's a tough cookie. Helped by the fact that he holes out so well from close range. Never underestimate that in match play, where opponents gain encouragement from you missing two-footers.

Elling: I am not exactly going to crawl out on a limb here. Paul Casey has made the final in each of the last two years at match play and has already won this year on the European Tour. He lives in nearby Scottsdale. Do you think the Dane takes down Woods in the first-rounder? Tiger is the best practitioner of match play in the world, arguably.

Huggan: The Tiger of old certainly was. Not so sure about this one, though. His putting, like I said, is liable to provide Bjorn with some encouragement, which is not good. You never want your opponent thinking he can win in match play.

Elling: That's the wonder of match play. Bjorn has already won this year, and the last time Woods entered this event, he got whacked by pea-shooting Tim Clark, the mighty mite. If a stroke-play event is a marathon, match play can be more of a sprint.

Huggan: Anything can happen, as Tiger knows all too well. Remember Peter O'Malley and Nick O'Hern (twice)?