The group stage has ended in the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play and on Saturday the knockout phase of the tournament begins as the 16 men who make it through look to secure on of the four spots in Sunday’s play.
As ever with this tournament there have been some big name casualties to get this far but a host of star players have made it through to what has the hallmarks of being a brilliant weekend of man on man combat. The last 16 and the quarter finals are both played out on Saturday. Time restrictions will deny us the chance to preview the quarter finals but we can look at the last 16.
Saturday’s last 16 matches are as follows:
Marc Leishman vs Louis Oosthuizen
Haotong Li vs Kevin Kisner
Francesco Molinari vs Paul Casey
Justin Rose vs Kevin Na
Lucas Bjerregaard vs Henrik Stenson
Rory McIlroy vs Tiger Woods
Matt Kuchar vs Tyrrell Hatton
Branden Grace vs Sergio Garcia
Saturday Preview
It is straight out knockout from here on in and one match leaps out at everyone in the last 16 when Rory McIlroy takes on Tiger Woods in a huge heavyweight battle which will draw massive crowds and could be the fixture that determines the overall champion. There is a big European battle elsewhere as Francesco Molinari goes up against Paul Casey while another appealing match sees Branden Grace taking on Sergio Garcia. Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen should produce a great game too.
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Saturday Betting
It is a busy day of action on Saturday and while the McIlroy against Woods match will get near enough all the attention there are seven other fantastic looking games on the card and we are taking bets in two of them to form our Saturday attack.
Francesco Molinari vs Paul Casey
Match tees off at 12.57 GMT
Our first bet comes in the all-European clash between Ryder Cup teammates Francesco Molinari and Paul Casey with the winner moving into the next stage to take on either Justin Rose or Kevin Na in the quarter final.
Molinari arrived here with that wonderful 5-0 record at the Ryder Cup and he has won all three matches here this week too so he is in tremendous form at the minute but Casey made it to Austin having won the Valspar last week and he is a former winner of this event so these two stand up to the scrutiny of anyone.
I fancy Casey here though I must admit. I think the course suits him a little better and he seems to relish 18 hole match play. Molinari has been excellent this week but one or two opponents have made life a little easier for him. Casey was making birdies for fun against Cameron Smith on Friday and if he can do that here he should have enough to come through.
Matt Kuchar vs Tyrrell Hatton
Match tees off at 13.41 GMT
Two men who made it through the group phase unbeaten at Matt Kuchar and Tyrrell Hatton and the pair meet in one of the last 16 clashes on Saturday morning with the aim of progressing to face either Branden Grace or Sergio Garcia in the quarter final.
Both these men have shown good credentials in this format of the game but I wonder if the relentless consistency of Kuchar will test out the fragile temperament of the Englishman and if it does and Hatton is found wanting in that department then I would expect Kuchar to come away with this one. I thought Kuchar has played the better golf to reach this stage and at a shade below odds on his record in the tournament can continue with another win.
Tips
Back P.Casey to beat F.Molinari for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Sky Bet
WON – Back M.Kuchar to beat T.Hatton for a 4/10 stake at 1.90 with Betfair
Back him here:
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