Day-vid and Goliath

By Harry Emanuel Last updated: 25th February 2011

If you were ever unsure about the unpredictable nature of Match Play the first two rounds should have put your mind at rest.

We've seen long and short matches, high and low scores, old and young winners, bombers and plodders, high and low ranked winners, experienced players and rookies progressing and the winners from a host of different nationalities.

Who knows how long a match will last? There were some extraordinary performances in second round with underdogs Ben Crane and Rickie Fowler making short work of higher seeds Rory McIlroy (8&7) and Phil Mickelson (7&6).

Only one of the second round matches went to extra holes when Martin Kaymer got the better of Justin Rose at the 20th hole compared to eight in the first round.

Age makes no difference. The youngest player in the field 17 year-old Matteo Manassero is still in contention along with one of the oldest players Angel Miguel Jimenez aged 47. Seven of remaining players in the field are aged under 30 (23 started).

No one style of play pervades over another. While power hitters Bubba Watson and JB Holmes continue to intimidate opponents by length, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell intimidate theirs with precision.

There are many different nations still competing - eight Americans, five Europeans, two Aussies and an Asian.

Experience only counts for so much. Four rookies have made the last sixteen and four players have record six or more wins in the event.

Rankings don't matter. Only one top seed remains (Martin Kaymer) and one second seed (Graeme McDowell) and they are the only two players from world's top 10 still in the field.

The lowest ranked player JB Holmes (66), who only got a place in the field at the last moment after the withdrawal of Toru Taniguchi and Tim Clark, has made the third round.

After two days and 48 matches 75% of the field are on the bus home or more likely a private jet but the tournament is just warming up and the sixteen remaining players still have to win four matches to claim the Championship.

Let's have a look at today's eight third round matches.

On average three of the top seeds (2010-3, 2009-2) fail to progress so expect a few upsets but overall it pays to stick with higher seeded players.

The player's win/loss figures are in brackets after their name and top seed in each match is the first named golfer.

Bobby Jones Already recommended: Watney to win group 15/2

Watney (4-1) - Moore (2-1)

Watney didn't need to be anywhere near his best to beat an injury ridden Kim in round one 5&4. For the second year in a row he beat the struggling world number one Lee Westwood in round two. He is a man in-form (6-5-6) and feels he is putting better than ever.

Ryan Moore, the 2004 US Amateur Champion, comes into event on the back of a confidence boosting fourth place finish at Riviera last week and beat an out of practice Francesco Molinari in round one and an under-performing KJ Choi in round. He will find Watney a difficult man to beat.

Donald (12-6)-Manassero (2-0)

Donald who has only played two competitive rounds this year (68-78) but steam rolled an out of form Charlie Hoffman 6&5 in the first round and was always in control against Eduardo Molinari in the second.

Donald has a great Ryder Cup record and his accuracy tee to green combined with a good short game always makes him a difficult opponent.

17-year-old Manassero comes off a confidence boosting 2&1 victory over Steve Stricker and a gritty final hole win over South African hot shot Charl Schwartzel. He has been very impressive so far but Donald experience may prove too much.

Ben Hogan

Kuchar (3-1)-Fowler (2-0)

Kuchar, the 1997 US Amateur Champion, is in great form (5-7-35).He battled back from dormie two to beat an inform Anders Hansen at the fourth extra hole and then comfortably dispatched Bo Van Pelt 3&2 in the second round.

He was one of America's most improved players in 2010 recording 11-Top-10's and a victory on his way to claiming second place in the season long Fed-Ex Cup.

Young gun Fowler loves the format and made an excellent debut at last year's Ryder Cup. His aggressive carefree style makes him a dangerous opponent as Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson found out.

He beat Mickelson with a brilliant display of golf including a 4-iron to three feet to set up an eagle putt and close out the match. The players are good friends but the ultra consistent Kuchar should see off his younger rival.

BET: Kuchar to win 11/10

McDowell (3-4)-YE Yang (3-2)

McDowell is up to number three in the world rankings after beating Heath Slocum and friend Ross Fisher in the first two rounds. It is no fluke and last year's U.S. Open victory, a winning display in the Ryder Cup and his play-off win over Tiger Woods at the Chevron make him an opponent no one wants to face.

PGA Champion Yang is a gritty competitor who was eighth in desert up a few weeks ago. He did well to beat the long hitting Quiros in extra time on day one and beat the ever dangerous if slightly below par Stewart Cink on day two. It should be a close match

Gary Player

Kaymer (4-3)-Mahan (4-3)

Kaymer is arguably the best player in the World and it won't be long before he claims the number one spot. He destroyed Noh 7&6 in round one and then overcame a flu ridden Justin Rose in extra holes in the second round. His game has no flaws.

The in-form Mahan (6-29-2-59) loves the format and has a point to prove after 'losing' the Ryder Cup. He beat Sean O'Hair and battled back from impressively two down to beat Robert Karlsson and secure his place in the third round. Kaymer should progress but Mahan will be no pushover.

Jimenez (8-9) - Crane (6-3)

The ultra consistent Ben Crane is a very slow player which can trouble some of the quicker players. He put in what he called 'one of my best performances' to oust McIlroy in round two. He is in very good form (21-14-8), one the best putters in the world and breaks his opponents down by continually rolling in putts.

Jimenez is always tough opponent and has quietly gone about his business beat Ikeda and Palmer comfortably in the first two rounds. Despite his wealth of experience he is the only player in the field with a losing record still in event and has only made it past the third round once in nine appearances.

BET: Ben Crane at 4/5.

Sam Snead

B Watson (2-0)-Ogilvy (20-3) Already recommended: Ogilvy in outright market at 14-1.

Ogilvy is one of the best Match Player of the modern era and won the event in 2009 and 2006 and was a beaten finalist in 2007. He has had two tough Matches against Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods tamer Thomas Bjorn.

Those matches went the distance but don't be put off by the close results as his first two matches went to extra holes each time he has won this tournament.

Recent winner Watson thrives on this style of course which has forced carries off many of the tee. He has convincingly beaten two in form players in Bill Haas (3&2) and two time 2011 winner Mark Wilson (6&5) and will prove a tough third round opponent.

J Day (2-0)-J B Holmes (2-1)

Jason Day is not a household name yet but this brilliant young Aussie has long been muted as a future champion. One shouldn't read too much into player's scores in Match Play but Day has carded twelve birdies and two eagles in 32 holes he's completed so far.

Holmes is a two-time winner in Arizona's desert conditions. He beat a below par Ernie Els on the 18th hole to make the third round. He has looked nervy and is not renowned as a strong putter.

BEST BET: NAP Jason Day at Evens.

There's a saying in the betting world 'doubles for show, singles for a pro' but it makes no mention of a Goliath.

It's only 247 bets consisting of 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 4-folds, 56 5-folds, 28 6-folds, 8 7-folds and 1 8-fold. So if you're feeling really lucky try and guess all eight matches correctly and place a Goliath.

A combination of Watney-Donald-Kuchar-McDowell-Kaymer-Crane-Ogilvy-Day at only 10p a line (total cost £24.70) could yield over £300.

It can't be that difficult...

Harry Emanuel