Feb. 20, 2012
By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM
The brackets for the 2012 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship were released on Monday. Here's a look inside the Ben Hogan bracket.
MORE BRACKET PREVIEWS: Sam Snead bracket | Bobby Jones bracket | Gary Player bracket
PRINTABLE BRACKET: Download the PDF file
| Hogan preview |
| BRACKET BREAKDOWN |
| Of the 16 players in the bracket, two are former Match Play winners (David Toms, Steve Stricker), one went to the finals last year (Martin Kaymer) and two others (Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar) went to the consolation finals; and six have won majors. Top to bottom, this is the deepest bracket of the four. Certainly, the American contigent is hoping for one of its own to come out of this bracket and land in the final four. Of the 23 Americans in the field this week at Dove Mountain, 10 are in this bracket. |
|
| BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCH |
| No doubt you've seen the Golf Boys video. Well, all four of the Boys -- Ben Crane, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan -- are in this bracket. And two of them face off in the first round -- fifth-seeded Watson vs. 12th-seeded Ben Crane. should be an entertaining match, but don't expect the the two to arrive at the first tee "in character." |
|
| POTENTIAL SECOND-ROUND MATCH |
| Remember the ending of the 2010 Ryder Cup, as Graeme McDowell clinched for the European side by beating Hunter Mahan 3 and 1 at Celtic Manor? Well, look who could find themselves facing off again should each player win their opening-round matches. Mahan no doubt would love to exact a little revenge on McDowell. But both have tough opponents -- McDowell vs. Y.E. Yang and Mahan vs. Zach Johnson. |
|
| GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES |
| A Kaymer-McDowell showdown in the quarterfinals would be most intriguing, but the locals in Arizona would love to see a couple of Americans. How about Stricker vs. Fowler? |
|
| BEST DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDED SLEEPER |
| Aaron Baddeley is one of the game's best putters, and he learned some valuable lessons about match play last November during The Presidents Cup. |
|
| Hogan seeds |
| 1 |
4 |
Martin
KAYMER |
 |
Kaymer, who lost finals to Donald last year, won last WGC event, the HSBC Champions, in November |
| Match Play appearances: 4 | Record: 7-4 | Best result: Finalist (2011) |
|
| 2 |
5 |
Steve
STRICKER |
 |
Hyundai champ making first start since Hawaii swing; has been resting after neck problems returned |
| Match Play appearances: 9 | Record: 10-8 | Best result: Winner (2001) |
|
| 3 |
13 |
Graeme
McDOWELL |
 |
G-Mac's still looking for his first victory anywhere since his breakout 2010 campaign |
| Match Play appearances: 5 | Record: 3-5 | Best result: Third round (2011) |
|
| 4 |
12 |
Matt
KUCHAR |
 |
Lost to eventual champ Donald in semifinals last year, then beat Bubba Watson in consolation match |
| Match Play appearances: 2 | Record: 6-2 | Best result: Third place (2011) |
|
| 5 |
21 |
Bubba
WATSON |
 |
Has been solid in his four starts on TOUR last year and played well here last year in his Match Play debut |
| Match Play appearances: 1 | Record: 4-2 | Best result: Fourth place (2011) |
|
| 6 |
22 |
Hunter
MAHAN |
 |
Top-25 finishes in each of his first three TOUR starts this year but hasn't done much here |
| Match Play appearances: 4 | Record: 4-4 | Best result: Third round (2011) |
|
| 7 |
30 |
Louis
OOSTHUIZEN |
 |
Has top 10s -- including one win -- in last seven European Tour starts dating back to last year |
| Match Play appearances: 2 | Record: 0-2 | Best result: First round (multiple) |
|
| 8 |
31 |
David
TOMS |
 |
The 2005 Match Play champ hasn't played since a tie for 6th at PGA TOUR's Humana Challenge |
| Match Play appearances: 10 | Record: 23-10 | Best result: Winner (2005) |
|
| 9 |
38 |
Rickie
FOWLER |
 |
Shot a 8-over 79 in his final round at Northern Trust and still looking for first top-10 of year |
| Match Play appearances: 1 | Record: 2-1 | Best result: Third round (2011) |
|
| 10 |
39 |
Aaron
BADDELEY |
 |
Has played well in his last two PGA TOUR starts but is making his first start here since 2009 |
| Match Play appearances: 3 | Record: 4-3 | Best result: Third round (multiple) |
|
| 11 |
46 |
Zach
JOHNSON |
 |
Of his 23 starts in World Golf Championships events, his lone top-5 finish came in Match Play in 2006 |
| Match Play appearances: 7 | Record: 7-7 | Best result: Third place (2006) |
|
| 12 |
47 |
Ben
CRANE |
 |
Has three top-10 finishes in first four PGA TOUR starts in 2012, including second in last start at Waste Management |
| Match Play appearances: 4 | Record: 6-4 | Best result: Third round (multiple) |
|
| 13 |
54 |
Jonathan
BYRD |
 |
It's been feast-or-famine this year on PGA TOUR -- two top-10 finishes; two missed cuts |
| Match Play appearances: 2 | Record: 2-2 | Best result: Third round (2008) |
|
| 14 |
55 |
Y.E.
YANG |
 |
Doesn't appear to be in form yet this year, with a tie for 34th at Northern Trust his made cut in three starts |
| Match Play appearances: 3 | Record: 4-3 | Best result: Quarterfinals (2011) |
|
| 15 |
62 |
Kevin
NA |
 |
After consecutive top-5 finishes, he stumbled at Northern Trust, shooting 78-77 on the weekend |
| Match Play appearances: 1 | Record: 0-1 | Best result: First round (2010) |
|
| 16 |
63 |
Greg
CHALMERS |
 |
The Australian, who consistently ranks among the best putters on the PGA TOUR, is returning to Match Play for first time in 11 years |
| Match Play appearances: 1 | Record: 0-1 | Best result: First round (2001) |
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