One to watch ... Brett Ogle tips in-form Charl Schwartzel to fire at the Accenture Matchplay. Source: Sakchai Lalit / AAP
It just goes to show you how hard it is to pick the winner of a golf tournament!
Who would have foreseen John Merrick and Charlie Beljan fighting it out at the Northern Trust Open on the PGA Tour on the weekend?
Both these guys were hardly in great form leading into the event. Beljan was coming off five straight missed cuts while Merrick had his best finish the week prior, a tie for 16th at Pebble Beach. Still, that is the best thing about golf! When you seem like your down an out and things are not going that well, you’ve always got next week to look forward to. Just keep practicing h
Merrick has always had plenty of potential it’s just taken a while to shine through. Back in 2001 when he was a 19 year old he won the prestigious Southern Californian Amateur and in doing so became the youngest player since Tiger Woods in 1994 to capture the nation's second-oldest Amateur crown. He has also had two 6th place finishes in Majors as well. The first was the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines then the following year shot 66 on the final day at Augusta.
Hopefully the victory will take Merrick to the next level of his golfing career. Unfortunately for both Merrick and Beljan they didn’t make the field for the Accenture Matchplay this week, which is the first World Golf Championship event of the year. The best 64 players all head to the magnificent Jack Nicklaus-designed Dove Mountain course where in last year’s final Hunter Mahan claimed the scalp of Rory McIlroy 2&1.
There are four Aussies in the field this week here are their round one opponents and what they can expect.
Adam Scott v Tim Clark: The battle of the “Broomies”
It’s a hard one to pick but I think coming off a top ten at the Northern Trust Open on the weekend I reckon Scott just has the advantage. Since finishing second in his first event of the year (Hawaiian Open) the South African has been cold.
SCOTT 4&3
Jason Day v Zach Johnson
On paper Jason Day looks to be too good for Johnson in this matchup. The Aussie has posted two top 10’s in three starts this season while Johnson has one top 20 in four events and is coming off a missed cut at the Northern Trust Open.
DAY 5&4
Marcus Fraser v Keegan Bradley
It will be Fraser’s first time at the Matchplay and coming off a tie 5th in Dubai a fortnight ago his confidence will be high. He is facing a tough opponent though who makes plenty of birdies. Because of the travel Fraser has to do against Bradley’s small flight, I give this to the American in a close one.
BRADLEY 2&1
John Senden v Bo Van Pelt
Both players have been well below their best so far in 2013. Senden has posted just two top 30’s and comes in to the event missing the cut at Riviera last week, while Van Pelt has had just one top 20 and also missed the cut last week. I give this one to whoever has made the most birdies in 2013 and that’s Van Pelt (61-51).
VAN PELT 2&1
There are four brackets so these are the guys that I think will win their section.
The first is Charl Schwartzel. What a sensational start to his 2013 it’s been. In four starts hasn’t finished outside the top 3 yet.
I have always rated Justin Rose a terrific match-player and I think he will be there at the end come Sunday.
Over on Tiger’s side of the draw I think Lee Westwood will get through. In his first couple of events he’s been solid just hasn’t finished off the way he would like. The Englishman is a tough gritty competitor and hard to beat one on one.
And finally I like Nick Watney. He has advanced to the third round in his last three appearances in Arizona. He is a tough nut to crack and has been playing well to start the year off.
Have a great golfing week everyone!
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