WGC-Match Play: Predictions for All 16 Groups

Group 5: Jordan Spieth, Ryan Moore, Yuta Ikeda, Hideto Tanihara

Sam’s Pick: Spieth — On paper, it looks like Spieth should have the run of this group, but things are sure to be much more complicated in reality. After all, Moore is a proven match player who sunk the winning putt for Team USA at last fall’s Ryder Cup, so you have to think he has what it takes to pull off an upset victory. The Las Vegas resident advanced all the way to the quarterfinals at last year’s WGC-Match Play.

Neither of the two Japan Golf Tour veterans in the group, Ikeda and Tanihara, are likely to advance  — not against a proven competitor like Spieth, and not when they appeared overmatched at the WGC-Mexico Championship a few weeks ago. But the beauty of match play is that anything can happen, so you’d be silly to count them out completely.

While we could see a good battle between Spieth and Moore, my bet is that the hometown kid will pull it out.

Beth’s Pick: Spieth — Despite his match play skills, I just don’t see how Ryan Moore will be able to withstand Spieth’s advantages. It’s time for Jordan Spieth to pick up his game and he knows it. Austin is like a pair of well-worn, good-fitting jeans for Jordan Spieth. I look for him to slip into those jeans and glide easily to the Round of 16.