WGC Match-Play Predictions: Ogilvy Repeats!

By Jared Trexler

Bobby Jones Bracket
Tiger Woods defeats J.J. Henry -- Solid ball-striker Henry could give Woods problems
Robert Allenby defeats Tim Clark -- Allenby has four Top-10s in four events this season
Rory Sabbatini defeats David Howell -- Mentally weak (Howell) vs. mentally nuts (Rory)
Lucas Glover defeats Nick O'Hern -- Talented American is better tee to green
Carl Petterson defeats K.J. Choi -- Three straight double-digit seeds advance
Henrik Stenson defeats Zach Johnson -- Intriguing Ryder Cup-style bout
Aaron Baddeley defeats Shingo Katayama -- Baddeley has blossomed this season
Luke Donald defeats Miguel Angel Jimenez -- Methodical match comes down to putting


Tiger Woods defeats Robert Allenby -- Best player knocks off red-hot Aussie
Lucas Glover defeats Rory Sabbatini -- I like the young American
Henrik Stenson defeats Carl Petterson -- Talented Euro finally realizing potential
Aaron Baddeley defeats Luke Donald -- Momentum carries Baddeley


Tiger Woods defeats Lucas Glover -- We all know where this is leading
Aaron Baddeley defeats Henrik Stenson -- I remember Aaron Baddeley years ago


Tiger Woods defeats Aaron Baddeley -- Can't overlook Woods' record in match play

Ben Hogan Bracket
Phil Mickelson downs Richard Green -- Battle of southpaws ends similarities
Justin Rose downs Michael Campbell -- Rose threatened at Hope before blowing in wind
Charles Howell III downs Stuart Appleby -- This isn't Hawaii, and Howell is on a roll
Sergio Garcia downs Darren Clarke -- Great match-up of Ryder Cup teammates
Chris DiMarco downs Brett Wetterich -- DiMarco eats this stuff for lunch
Trevor Immelman downs Thomas Bjorn -- South African loves this event
Bart Bryant downs Ian Poulter -- "77-75" isn't what Poulter had in mind before here
Ernie Els downs Bradley Dredge -- Welsh's golfing son little known in the States


Phil Mickelson downs Justin Rose -- Lefty is keeping lower body underneath his arms
Charles Howell III downs Sergio Garcia -- The momentum train sets up Nissan rematch
Chris DiMarco downs Trevor Immelman -- DiMarco is the ultimate Match Play bulldog
Ernie Els downs Bart Bryant -- Two relatively easy matches for Ernie


Phil Mickelson downs Charles Howell III -- Payback comes in third round
Ernie Els downs Chris DiMarco -- Victory sets up dynamic quarterfinal


Phil Mickelson downs Ernie Els -- Mickelson is great when driver is on like it is now

Gary Player Bracket
Jim Furyk beats Brett Quigley -- Quigley is an interesting Match Play study
Angel Cabrera beats Chad Campbell -- Haven't seen much from either player
David Toms beats Aaron Oberholser -- Aaron might have to withdraw
Davis Love III beats Ben Crane -- Crane's philosophy: play slow.
Stewart Cink beats Jeev Milkha Singh -- Welcome to the PGA Tour Jeev!
Padraig Harrington beats Lee Westwood -- Like Garcia v. Clarke, match of Ryder Cup
Stephen Ames beats Robert Karlsson -- Don't worry Stephen. Tiger is far, far away
Vigay Singh beats John Rollins -- Vigay's play has been s0-so, this could be an upset


Jim Furyk beats Angel Cabrera -- Furyk will capitalize on Cabrera's rust
Davis Love III beats David Toms -- Match-up of Ryder Cup friends on U.S. side
Stewart Cink beats Padraig Harrington -- Harrington was brilliant AT TIMES last week
Vigay Singh beats Stephen Ames -- Vigay is lucky to have this early draw


Davis Love III beats Jim Furyk -- I have a feeling about Davis if the back cooperates
Stewart Cink beats Vigay Singh -- Fairways and greens beats rough then scramble


Davis Love III beats Stewart Cink -- Entertaining match, Davis has too much firepower

Sam Snead Bracket
Adam Scott wins over Shaun Micheel -- This isn't the PGA Championship
Rod Pampling wins over Yang Yong-Eun -- WHO? Pampling is tailor made for golf course
Colin Montgomerie wins over Johan Edfors -- Monty another solid match play performer
Paul Casey wins over Mike Weir -- Weir's swing changes still a work in progress
Jose Maria Olazabal wins over Paul Goydos -- Jose's record in MP is stellar
Geoff Ogilvy wins over Steve Stricker -- Supremely talented Aussie advances
Joe Durant wins over Niclas Fasth -- Durant is fit in the "fairways and greens" mold
Scott Verplank wins over Retief Goosen -- Upset! Goose still rounding into form


Adam Scott wins over Rod Pampling -- Young gun survives battle of Aussies
Paul Casey wins over Colin Montgomerie -- Fascinating old guard-new guard battle
Geoff Ogilvy wins over Jose Maria Olazabal -- Talent vs. Experience -- classic battle
Scott Verplank wins over Joe Durant -- Plenty of fairways. Greens. And few bogeys


Adam Scott wins over Paul Casey -- Two of golf's rising stars
Geoff Ogilvy wins over Scott Verplank -- Ogilvy has massive length advantage


Geoff Ogilvy wins over Adam Scott -- Another battle of Aussies goes to the major champion

FINAL FOUR
Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson
Davis Love III vs. Geoff Ogilvy

Prediction: Golf TV would salivate over this Final Four, probably bringing in the highest ratings ever for this event if my predictions (highly unlikely) come to fruition. Mickelson's new-found long game versus Tiger's superior will and heart. The key to the match will be Wood's driver. If it is on, Tiger wins. If it is slightly off, Mickelson will prevail. Love III rode a hot putter and long driving to this point. Ogilvy is the more polished player at this stage of each player's career.

Mickelson defeats Woods, 2&1
Ogilvy defeats Love III, 3&2

The Championship Match will conclude A LOT of high-pressure golf for Mickelson during the West Coast Swing. His "new" body and endurance will be a key factor late in the 36-hole final against the fresher player. Ogilvy will withstand an early birdie barrage from Lefty, then win a few back nine holes when fatigue sets in.

Ogilvy defeats Mickelson, 2&1
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Jared Trexler is The Phanatic Magazine's Golf Editor. He can be reached at jtrexler@phanaticmag.com