The group stages of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship are out of the way and in many ways now the real stuff begins. From here on in we are set for two days of knockout golf where simply you win and you advance and if you lose you’re done.
Saturday is an extremely busy day for the players as the last 16 and the quarter finals are played out. Time restrictions will stop us from previewing the quarter finals although with two outright bets still running hopefully they will make it into the last eight to give us a pay out interest in them even if it is only the place part.
As is the way in this tournament we have had shocks galore so far with big names dropping like flies. The eight matches in the last 16 are Dustin Johnson vs Zach Johnson, Alex Noren vs Brooks Koepka, Ross Fisher vs Bubba Watson, Paul Casey vs Hideki Tanihara, Soren Kjeldsen vs William McGirt, Jon Rahm vs Charles Howell III, Phil Mickelson vs Marc Leishman and Bill Haas vs Kevin Na.
There are three matches I like bets in. I’m avoiding the two matches with our outright bets in – Zach Johnson and Bill Haas. Hopefully they both make it through.
Phil Mickelson vs Marc Leishman
Match tees off at 12.41 GMT.
The man who is never out of a hole in Phil Mickelson takes on last week’s winner Marc Leishman for a place in the quarter final. Mickelson has won his three matches so far, each with more than a degree of comfort about them, although that isn’t always a good thing as if he is taken far he will be playing holes for the first time. Leishman came through a playoff to make it this far but it is clear to see how well he is driving the ball and he has flushed wedges all week. If the putter cooperates then I expect him to win this match by virtue of the fact he is going to be playing the course from the right places unlike Phil who will naturally be all over the shop.
Soren Kjeldsen vs William McGirt
Match tees off at 13.03 GMT.
Arguably the closest match of the last 16 sees Rory McIlroy’s conqueror Soren Kjeldsen taking on William McGirt in a battle of the surprise packages. I’ve had a feeling about Kjeldsen this week which I’m annoyed I didn’t act on pre-tournament but he has looked very good so far. He is dialled in with the wedges which is what you need around here and his temperament is likely to take him a long way too. There won’t be much between these two but the fresher Kjeldsen could just have enough of an edge to win.
Alex Noren vs Brooks Koepka
Match tees off at 13.36 GMT.
Two men who won all three of their group matches do battle in the penultimate match of the morning when Alex Noren takes on Brooks Koepka. Noren won his third match without getting onto the golf course after Francesco Molinari withdrew but there had been talk of a wrist niggle annoying him which isn’t ideal. Nothing has annoyed Koepka and I fancy Patrick Reed might have done the American a favour on Friday by taking him the distance so that he has played the golf course in competitive play and has handled himself under pressure. With the way Koepka is driving the ball he’s going to be tough to contain around here.
Tips
Back M.Leishman to beat P.Mickelson for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Bet365
Back him here:
WON – Back S.Kjeldsen to beat W.McGirt for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Skybet
Back him here:
Back B.Koepka to beat A.Noren for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Titanbet
Back him here:
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