WGC-Match Play: Predictions for All 16 Groups

Group 9: Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Kevin Kisner, Jason Dufner

Sam’s Pick: Kisner — If you had told me six months ago that I’d be picking Kevin Kisner to outperform Patrick Reed at a match play event, I’d have said that you were crazy, but this is golf, and a lot can change over a short period of time. Kisner, a Georgia Bulldog with no shortage of scar tissue, has been playing some of the best golf of his career in recent weeks, and I’m looking for him to keep it going at the WGC-Match Play.

Reed is no pushover, of course, and with a 6-1-2 career record at the Ryder Cup, he’s a scary match player. However, he’s been leaking some serious oil in recent weeks, as has Koepka, another young American with a nice track record in this format.

Dufner is an interesting prospect, but he hasn’t been anywhere near Kisner over the past few weeks. In a group of Americans, I’m taking the South Carolina native to come out on top.

Beth’s Pick: Reed — Patrick Reed has shown over and over that he plays best when he’s facing tough challenges. The guy seems to feed off the competition. Kisner is just what he needs to get fired up and back on track. I’m going to kick back and enjoy watching him plow through his early rounds.