Match previews: A look at Sunday's singles

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Nov. 19, 2011
By Mike McAllister and Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM staff

MELBOURNE, Australia -- The final day of The Presidents Cup consists of 12 singles matches. The United States will enter the final session at Royal Melbourne with a 13-9 lead and needs just 4-1/2 points to win The Presidents Cup.

Here's a preview at each match, along with predictions from PGATOUR.COM staffers Mike McAllister and Helen Ross on-site at Royal Melbourne:

WHO'LL WIN THE SINGLES MATCHES? MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS

Match 23
Webb Simpson
United States
10:30 a.m. (local)
6:30 p.m. ET (Sat.)
K.T. Kim
International

QUICK LOOK
Kim undoubtedly gained confidence when he teamed with Y.E. Yang to beat Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson 1 up in a battle where the Koreans never trailed. Kim finally started hitting greens -- 17 of 18 as compared with just seven in his first Four-Ball -- which created scoring opportunities. In Simpson, though, Kim will be facing one of the U.S. stars. The rookie went 3-1 with his good buddy Bubba Watson and has been playing extremely well all year. He won twice, lost two others in a playoff and had another other runner-up finish in a stellar 2011 on the PGA TOUR. Not to mention, Simpson finished 10th or higher in six of his last seven starts. He will be tough to beat.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Simpson will set the tone for the Americans."
Helen Ross - U.S. "After his breakthrough year, the American is too confident and too talented to give ground in this match."

Match 24
Dustin Johnson
United States
10:42 a.m. (local)
6:42 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Charl Schwartzel
International

QUICK LOOK
Johnson and Royal Melbourne haven't exactly been getting along this week. In his two Four-Ball matches the American has made just three birdies and a trio of bogeys. He didn't make a birdie after the fifth hole on Saturday in his match with Tiger Woods against K.T. Kim and Y.E. Yang, although Johnson did find 11 greens and as many fairways in the losing effort. Schwartzel was somewhat erratic on Saturday, as well, making birdie on the first two holes but adding just one more against five bogeys the rest of the way. This could be an entertaining match between two scrappy Presidents Cup rookies.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "Schwartzel won't be intimidated by Johnson's power."
Helen Ross - International. "I watched Charl Schwartzel birdie the final four holes at Augusta National, another Alister Mackenzie masterpiece, in April so I know better than to bet against him."

Match 25
Bubba Watson
United States
10:54 a.m. (local)
6:54 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Ryo Ishikawa
International

QUICK LOOK
Ernie Els has done a masterful job preparing Ishikawa, who had flight problems and arrived at Royal Melbourne a day late. Els, who owns the Composite course record of 60, showed Ishikawa the ins-and-outs of the challenging layoout, and the 20-year-old from Japan ended up making the 14-foot birdie putt that turned the tide in their Foursomes match with Matt Kuchar and Bill Haas. Watson, though, is fearless and U.S. Captain Fred Couples has gotten him off early before the fidgity Watson can have too much time to think about the situation. Watson won three times as something of the "elder" statesman with Webb Simpson this week and his confidence is high.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Bubba plays with emotion, and he'll have the juices flowing."
Helen Ross - U.S. "Watson has already won twice this year -- there's no reason to think he can't prevail head-to-head for the USA."

Match 26
Bill Haas
United States
11:06 a.m. (local)
7:06 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Geoff Ogilvy
International

QUICK LOOK
Ogilvy grew up in a home adjacent to Royal Melbourne and the popular Aussie will undoubtedly have the crowd on his side. He's played well this week, too -- winning both his Four-Ball matches with K.J. Choi and halving his opening Foursomes. Ogilvy has won both his previous Singles matches at the Presidents Cup, and he's a two-time champ of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship so he certainly knows the deal. Haas, on the other hand, is playing in his first International competition since turning pro. He didn't get his first win until Saturday afternoon, teaming with Hunter Mahan, but Haas' other three matches went to the 18th hole so he must be doing something right. The FedExCup champ has earned 1-1/2 points for the U.S. and he'll be out for revenge against Ogilvy, who picked up one of his wins with Choi against the American and Nick Watney.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "I don't see the Aussie losing in singles on this course."
Helen Ross - U.S. "I'm going for the upset here. Haas is a great ball-striker and if he finds fairways and greens he could wear Ogilvy down.

Match 27
Hunter Mahan
United States
11:18 a.m. (local)
7:18 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Jason Day
International

QUICK LOOK
Day hasn't been hitting the ball as well as he would like this week as he teammed with Aaron Baddeley for a 1-2-1 record. One of those losses came against Mahan and Bill Haas on Saturday afternoon -- despite the 32-foot bomb he drained for birdie on the 17th hole in a desperate attempt to halve the match. Mahan has been extremely steady, partnering David Toms to a 2-1 record and the winning another with Haas. That last victory came courtesy of a dramatic 23-footer at the 17th hole to negate Day's desperation putt. Mahan is 1-1 in his two previous Presidents Cup Singles.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "Day finally came to life late on Saturday, and he'll carry that over."
Helen Ross - U.S. "I liked the fire Mahan showed when he made that putt on Saturday. He'll be ready for Day again in Singles."

Match 28
Nick Watney
United States
11:30 a.m. (local)
7:30 p.m. ET (Sat.)
K.J. Choi
International

QUICK LOOK
Prior to this week, Choi had only won one of the seven Four-Ball and Foursomes matches he's played in the Presidents Cup. But the reigning PLAYERS champ has been stellar at Royal Melbourne, posting a 3-1 record and showing the kind of fire the Internationals will need Sunday. The Korean vet has been solid in Singles, too, winning both his previous matches so he'll be a formidable opponent for Watney, who is playing in his first international team competition as an amateur or a pro. Watney, who is one of the game's best ball-strikers, came alive in Saturday's Four-Balls after sitting out the morning session. The lanky Californian, who has won twice already this year, made five birdies -- more than anyone else in the Four-Ball session -- as he and Furyk beat Adam Scott and Ernie Els for Watney's first point of the Presidents Cup.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "Choi's been the best International player this week."
Helen Ross - International. "Watney was solid Saturday afternoon but Choi's experience should win out."

Match 29
Phil Mickelson
United States
11:42 a.m. (local)
7:42 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Adam Scott
International

QUICK LOOK
These two players have had a very different experience at Royal Melbourne so far. Mickelson teamed with Jim Furyk three times and the 41-year-olds produced victories in each match. He'll be rested, too, after spending Saturday's Four-Balls on the sidelines in the rain, cheering for his teammates. Scott will have the fans on his side, but the Aussie has played four times and only won his opening FOursomes with K.J. Choi. His putter let him down Saturday afternoon, too, as Scott missed a birdie putt from inside 10 feet at the 17th hole that would have squared the match that Furyk and Nick Watney went on to win. He can't afford to squander those chances against Mickelson.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Phil's had fun all week. Why stop now?"
Helen Ross - U.S. " Mickelson will be well-rested after sitting out Saturday's Four-Balls and his 'conventional' putter is cooperating. Look for him to prevail."

Match 30
Matt Kuchar
United States
11:54 a.m. (local)
7:54 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Retief Goosen
International

QUICK LOOK
Goosen admitted he got a little "spooked" down the stretch as he and Charl Schwartzel upset previously unbeaten Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson in Saturday afternoon's Four-Balls. Goosen, who is 2-2 overall at Royal Melbourne, won't be able to miss those putts against Kuchar, though. The American reached the consolation of this year's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship so he knows he can handle the head-to-head competition. Kuchar can be explosive, too -- he made four straight birdies on the front nine of his FOur-Ball match with Steve Stricker against Geoff Ogilvy and K.J. Choi, even the Internationals went on to win.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Kuchar has shown stretches of brilliance at Royal Melbourne."
Helen Ross - International. "Kuchar has been winning everything in ping-pong but Goosen, who has a 3-2 record in Singles, is just too strong."

Match 31
Jim Furyk
United States
12:06 p.m. (local)
8:06 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Ernie Els
International

QUICK LOOK
Furyk wasn't able to get into the winner's circle on the PGA TOUR this year after winning the FedExCup in 2010, but he's been the most productive player on either side this week, having won his first four matches -- three with Phil Mickelson, one with Nick Watney. If he can win flying solo on Sunday, he'll be just the fourth player in Presidents Cup history to win all five of his matches. He draws a tough opponent against Els, though. The Big Easy spent the first three matches partnering with young Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and finally broke through with a win in Saturday's fobookursomes.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Grabbing a piece of The Presidents Cup record book will be sufficient motivation in a match of two TOUR veterans."
Helen Ross - U.S. "This may be the best match of the day."

Match 32
David Toms
United States
12:18 p.m. (local)
8:18 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Robert Allenby
International

QUICK LOOK
Allenby, a Captain's Pick, has yet to win a match this week and sat out the Saturday afternoon four-ball matches. It's been a disappointing week for the Australian, who was selected by Greg Norman because of his success here and knowledge about Royal Melbourne, but he'll have a chance to redeem himself against Toms. Like Allenby, Toms did not play Saturday afternoon, so both players should be well rested by the time this match starts.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "Allenby is due to play well at some point this week. Maybe he's just waiting for Sunday."
Helen Ross - International. "When Allenby sat out Saturday afternoon he put the time to good use on the range. He's ready."

Match 33
Tiger Woods
United States
12:30 p.m. (local)
8:30 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Aaron Baddeley
International

QUICK LOOK
Baddeley already has a victory over Woods this week, as he and partner Jason Day beat Woods and Dustin Johnson in Friday's four-ball session. But Tiger is tough to beat in singles -- his Presidents Cup/Ryder Cup record is 8-3-1. Until he beat Y.E. Yang two years ago, though, Woods had lost his previous two singles matches in Presidents Cup. The American has played well this week from tee to green, but he hasn't been able to buy a putt, as he's won just one of our matches thus far. Baddeley stumbled in his opening foursomes match this week but has played better ever since, although he and partner Jason Day could manage just 1-1/2 points, losing both of their matches on Saturday. Baddeley, a Captain's Pick, will be extra motivated in front of his Australian fans.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Woods has looked good this week but hasn't gotten rewarded for it. It seems only a matter of time until he puts it all together."
Helen Ross - U.S. "Was tempted to pick Baddeley but Woods is the consummate match-play performer."

Match 34
Steve Stricker
United States
12:42 p.m. (local)
8:42 p.m. ET (Sat.)
Y.E. Yang
International

QUICK LOOK
Yang was throttled 6 and 5 by Tiger Woods two years ago in singles at Harding Park. But he and fellow Korean K.T. Kim beat Woods and Dustin Johnson in Saturday's four-balls. You wonder if International Captain Greg Norman was secretly hoping that Yang would get a rematch against Woods. Instead, U.S. Captain Fred Couples decided to put Stricker against Yang in the anchor match. The International team can only hope it comes down to this match, since they enter Sunday's singles with such a large deficit. Stricker is 2-3-0 in his Presidents Cup/Ryder Cup career in singles; he has lost to Geoff Ogilvy in the last two Presidents Cup.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Stricker played well after resting Saturday morning. He'll get to sleep in again on Sunday."
Helen Ross - U.S. "Stricker appears healthy and he is just too steady to be overlooked."

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