WGC-Dell Match Play: Predictions for Saturday’s Knockout Rounds

Ross Fisher (47) v. Bubba Watson (13)

This is a tricky one. Watson has been playing well this week, but his overall form is terrible, so it’s hard to know what to make of him. Fisher has been just as good, and while he’s not a regular at the Dell Match Play, he defeated Louis Oosthuizen, last year’s runner-up, in sudden death to get to this point.

Both men look ready for another victory, but I’ll take Watson, the more experienced match player — unless his performance this week has been an apparition, it looks like he’s returned to his winning ways.

Prediction: Watson

Hideto Tanihara (54) v. Paul Casey (12)

This one should be Casey’s to lose, but after watching Tanihara take down world No. 6 Jordan Spieth on Wednesday, my bet is that this will be an interesting matchup. Yes, the Dell Match Play features a volatile format, but you don’t go undefeated in group play by accident, and the man from Japan has looked poised under the pressure all week long.

Casey, however, won all three of his matches compared to Tanihara’s two, and he managed to beat a red-hot Charl Schwartzel on Friday — definitely a good sign. As much as I’d like to predict an upset, the Englishman looks ready to take it.

Prediction: Casey

Quarterfinal Prediction: Bubba Watson v. Paul Casey

This hypothetical quarterfinal match will feature a couple of contrasting players — while Watson’s game is all about power, Casey places more of an emphasis on precision.

We’d likely see competitive golf on both sides, but I’ve got to go with the Englishman on this one. Casey has more momentum and a better match play record, as well as a superior ability to knock in those pressure putts.

Prediction: Casey