Week 8~Fantasy Golf~Accenture Match Play Championship - February 19-23, 2014

We're doing something a little different this week - for the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship we're giving you our Top 8 and projected winner.  With Match Play, you just never know!!  Underlined name is the projected winner! (Players in Black have been eliminated)

Jeremy:
Rory McIlroy
Jordan Speith
Jason Day
Dustin Johnson
Jason Dufner
Graeme McDowell
Sergio Garcia
Webb Simpson

Drew:
Webb Simpson
Jason Day
Matt Kuchar
Jordan Spieth
Ian Poulter
Rory McIlroy
Graeme McDowell
Hunter Mahan

Matt:
Jason Day
Henrik Stenson
Matt Kuchar
Jordan Spieth
Sergio Garcia
Harris English
Hunter Mahan
Hideki Matsuyama

Chuck:
Hunter Mahan
Bubba Watson
Webb Simpson
Billy Horschel
Scott Stallings
Jordan Spieth
Harris English
Ian Poulter

Cathy:
Jason Day
Webb Simpson
Charl Schwarzel
Sergio Garcia
Justin Rose
Matt Kuchar
Hunter Mahan 
Dustin Johnson

Jeremy's Picks:
Rory McIlroy (winner) - Rory has found his golf game and confidence after a long off season of practice.  He is the top seed and the player to beat.
 
Jordan Spieth - Who better to take in a match play event than a player who recently left college.  Young and talented Spieth could shine here.
 
Jason Day - He has one of the more difficult routes to the title but if anyone can navigate through it, it would be Day.
 
Dustin Johnson - DJ is on the cusp of winning.  His game is looking good and he has been in contention a lot recently.
 
Jason Dufner - Dufner has a good enough attitude and low key manner to make it through the 5 day lope.
 
Graeme McDowell - The Northern Irishman has the game to contend here and the match play experience to go with it.
 
Sergio Garcia - Sergio is playing great golf right now, with his improved putting I could definitely see him making a run at the title.
 
Webb Simpson - He is a pick based mostly on the presumption that many of the players in his section of the bracket are not playing good golf at the moment.  Don't be surprised if a high seed comes out of his little corner.

Drew's Picks:
Bobby Jones:
Webb Simpson
Jason Day

Gary Player:
Matt Kuchar
Jordan Spieth

Ben Hogan:
Ian Poulter
Rory McIlroy

Sam Snead:
Graeme McDowell
Hunter Mahan

Matt's Picks:
Jason Day  
Bobby Jones Bracket: In three starts at the Accenture Match Play, Day has finished 3rd last season, T17 in 2012, and T9 in 2011. Day, ranking 11th in the world rankings, has earned six top tens and two top twenty-fives in his last ten starts worldwide. He recently finished 2nd at the Farmers Insurance Open.  

Henrik Stenson
Bobby Jones Bracket: Although Stenson hasn't play well at the Match Play event in his last four starts here, he currently is in exceptional form.  He has worked his way up to 3rd in the world golf rankings, won last year's FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai.  Stenson has two top thirty finishes and four top tens in his last seven starts worldwide.  Stenson won this event in 2007 and took 3rd in 2008.

Matt Kuchar  (winner)
Gary Player Bracket: Kuchar has one of the best track records here over the last three years. Last season Kuchar won this event, the year prior he made the round of eight, and in 2011 he finished 3rd. Kuchar may be coming off a missed cut, but I think the extra rest before this event will actually help. I expect another good performance from Kuchar this week. 

Jordan Spieth
Gary Player Bracket: Spieth is having a great sophomore season, earning a runner-up in the Hyundai TOC and four other top twenty-fives.  So far this season, Spieth has seemed to struggle on "moving day" shooting rounds in the 70's in four of six Saturdays he has played.  With the change in format, I think the aggressive youngster should fair well.


Sergio Garcia  
Ben Hogan Bracket: Garcia comes into the Accenture Match Play in great form. He has not finished outside of the top twenty in his last nine starts worldwide. He has two victories and a runner-up in his last four starts. Garcia made the final four in 2010 and has made the round of sixteen on three other occasions.  

Harris English
Ben Hogan Bracket: Harris English has started out the 2013-2014 season on fire, and doesn't appear to be slowing down.  He has yet to miss a cut in nine starts, won the Mayakoba event, and owns four other top ten finishes.  He currently sits in 3rd on the FedEx Standings and is coming off a top ten at the Northern Trust Open.

Hunter Mahan  
Sam Snead Bracket: Hunter Mahan is my pick for the very tough Snead bracket. Although he is coming off a disappointing showing at the Northern Trust Open, he still owns three top fifteens on the season and has yet to miss a cut. Mahan has faired well in this match play event, earning a runner-up last year, a victory in 2012 and a T9 in 2011. 

Hideki Matsuyama
Sam Snead Bracket: Matsuyama has finished T28 or better in his last sixteen events worldwide if you throw out his withdrawal from the HSBC Champions event.  In his last three starts on the PGA Tour, he owns a T23 at the Northern Trust Open, a T4 at the Waste Management Open, and a T16 at the Farmers Insurance Open.  

Chuck's Picks:
Snead
Bubba Watson – fresh off a victory and well suited for aggressive shot making type tournament

Hunter Mahan (winner) – Ryder cup experience should help this week and can grind with the best of them.

Jones

Webb Simpson – Has been the most consistent all year and should be the man to beat in this bracket

Billy Horschel – Could be the Cinderella story in the Bobby Jones Bracket. Flying under the radar at #10 seed.

Player
Scott Stallings – long hitter and aggressive play make him a sleeper in this format.

Jordan Speith – Match play debut but has the tenacity to succeed.

Hogan
Harris English – I can’t ignore his great play this year but he does have a tough road ahead.

Ian Poulter – While I don’t particularly care for him it’s hard to bet against him in any match play event.

Cathy's Picks:
Jason Day - (winner)  It's never easy when my heart is torn!  I had to give up one of my favorite players for Top 8, but I went with my gut on this one and decided to pick Day for the 2014 WGC winner.    I feel like his bracket is suited for him to make the finals and then take the win home.

Webb Simpson - As 5th seed, he's got to get past FedEx Cup winner Stenson, but I think he's playing some solid golf this year. (on my bracket I have him losing to Day in the quarters).

Charl Schwarzel - I'm not even sure why Schwarzel makes it past McIlory on my bracket, but he does! (I think he falls to Day in the Semi's).  I think his good finish last week makes me think he could do well this week.

Sergio Garcia - I really wanted to pick Haas to beat Garcia, but I think his passion and risk/reward attitude will take him far in the Match Play.

Justin Rose - I know his play last week doesn't exactly lend itself to say he should make the Quarters in the Match Play, but Rose loves a challenge, and I think he's got a good bracket to make it to the 8's (and then lose to Matt!).

Matt Kuchar - I've got to think last week was just a weird hiccup on what has otherwise been one of the most steady strings of golf in a long time!    I think Matt goes to the finals.

Hunter Mahan - Steady golf can be a key here - he's proven himself in Match Play so it's hard not to see him going far here.

Dustin Johnson - I'm using the "go with the hot guy" theory on DJ - you cannot deny his great play in the past few weeks, and he's got the game to put the pressure on his opponent.