Second-round bracket preview: Bobby Jones bracket

text size
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size
Email This Story Print This Story RSS
Feb. 25, 2009
By T.J. Auclair, PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer

Here's a look at the Bobby Jones bracket going into Thursday's second round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. OTHER BRACKETS: Ben Hogan | Gary Player | Sam Snead | Second-round predictions

Bracket-Bobby-Jones.jpg

MOST INTRIGUING MATCH: Hunter Mahan vs. Rory McIlroy. This is an interesting match between two young guns. That said, Mahan will be the old man in this duel at 26 years old, seven years older than the young Irishman McIlroy. Look for it to be a hard-fought battle. Mahan's experience with the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup in each of the last two years might prove to be the difference. Then again, McIlroy is riding high on confidence after his first win on the European Tour a few weeks back in Dubai.

MOST COMPETITIVE MATCH: Camilo Villegas vs. Miguel Angel Jimenez. This will be a battle between one of golf's flashiest players and one of golf's most laid back players. They're also two of the most fun players the game has to offer -- Villegas with his Spiderman way of lining up putts and Jimenez with his constant puff of a cigar with the long, red ponytail hanging out of the back of his hat. Villegas will bring the power, but Jimenez will bring the ability to grind.

POTENTIAL BLOWOUT WARNING: Tiger Woods vs. Tim Clark. These two faced each other in the second round during the 2007 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and it was ugly for Clark, as he experienced the short end of a 5 and 4 Woods romp. After seeing Woods on Tuesday with no sign of knee trouble, that same outcome could very well happen again. Not to mention, this is Clark's sixth appearance in this event and just the second time he's made it through the first round.

POTENTIAL THIRD-ROUND MATCH: Tiger Woods vs. Hunter Mahan. This would be quite the compelling match up. Mahan is one of the young guys who shined in Tiger's absence. Despite not picking up a win, Mahan played a part in helping the U.S. team win the Ryder Cup. Plus, Mahan doesn't come off as a guy who's easily intimidated. Could make for an interesting match.

Second-round matches
TIGER WOODS (1) vs. Tim Clark (32)
Both players made easy work of their first-round matches. However, just like anyone else, Clark can't feel all that comfortable facing Tiger. Tiger smoked Clark in the second round of the 2007 event and despite being away for eight months, Tiger is looking strong as ever.
RORY McILROY (16) vs. HUNTER MAHAN (48)
McIlroy is riding sky-high on confidence after his win in Dubai a few weeks back. He brings something to this match that Mahan doesn't -- recent success. Mahan hasn't won since the summer of 2007, but he was a member of the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team, which has to count for something.
GEOFF OGILVY (8) vs. SHINGO KATAYAMA (40)
Ogilvy is dangerous in this event, having one once and finishing runner up a second time. Even as a No. 8 seed, he had to be one of the favorites coming in based off of his play in 2009, which already includes a win. Katayama might keep it close, but Ogilvy is a fierce competitor.
CAMILO VILLEGAS (9) vs. MIGUEL A. JIMENEZ (24)
Villegas lost in the first round of this event last season, but he's a completely different player now, having won two PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup events. With his new confidence, Villegas has turned into a force. The tempermant Jimenez brings to the table could work in his favor.
NOTE: Official World Golf Ranking in parentheses
Email This Story   Print This Story   RSS   Bookmark and Share
PGA TOUR
PGA TOUR AustralAsia
Sunshine Tour
Japan Golf Tour
PGA European Tour
ASIAN TOUR

©1995–2009 PGA TOUR, Inc. | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PGA TOUR,
Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour, and the swinging golfer logo are registered trademarks.

TurnerPGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network