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WGC-Accenture Match Play: Sunday Preview

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And then there were four. The 64 man field that began the WGC-Accenture Match Play is down to just four golfers after the Round 4 matches.

The only men still standing? Jason Day (2), Rickie Fowler (14), Ernie Els (8) and Victor Dubuisson (7). Seeing the second-seeded Jason Day make it this far in the competition isn’t a surprise. As for the other three golfers though, their resiliency is impressive.

We’ve had a number of great matches thus far (and some great hair, courtesy of Jason Dufner), and now we’re moving on to the semifinals.

Jason Day (2) vs. Rickie Fowler (14): 7:05 a.m. MT (9:05 a.m. ET)

Jason Day’s road to the semifinals has been a relatively smooth one. His Round 4 match with Louis Oosthuizen (8) was a seesaw affair to begin with Day eventually springing ahead to a 3-up lead after 11 holes. Oosthuizen, who’s been bothered by a myriad of injuries over the past year, was suffering from back trouble that was apparent during the back nine. That and stellar play from Day were too much to overcome and the Australian closed the match out on the 17th hole.

14th-seeded Rickie Fowler certainly wasn’t expected to make it this far into the competition. Certainly, most punters would have picked Ian Poulter to do away with Fowler in the first round, yet he defeated the Englishman, Jimmy Walker and Sergio Garcia, before facing off with Jim Furyk. Fowler rushed ahead early in the match. However, quintessential grinder that he is, Jim Furyk wasn’t going to go down without a fight, and he fought back to capture the lead early in the back nine. The competitors arrived at the 18th hole tied, and Jim Furyk was unable to get up and down to continue the contest.

Day’s start to the season has been a good one, with two of his three finishes being of the top-10 variety. His ability to bomb the golf ball has served him well this week, and he looks as strong as any golfer in the competition. Fowler, whose struggles early this season have been well documented, has played with determination this week, and he appears to be reaping the benefits of the work he’s doing with swing coach Butch Harmon. This should be a great match.

Ernie Els (8) vs. Victor Dubuisson (7): 7:20 a.m. MT (9:20 a.m. ET)

Eighth-seeded Ernie Els showed 20-year-old Jordan Spieth a thing or two on Saturday. With many predicting that the old man didn’t stand a chance against the rising star, the South African simply dominated the younger player. It wasn’t a rout, but Els never gave any indication that he wasn’t going to win the match. He crept ahead early and gradually pressed the accelerator down, eventually winning 4&2.

Victor Dubuisson (7) had to figure that no matter what he did in his match against Graeme McDowell, the latter would come back to win as he had all week, however improbable that result seemed. Unfortunately for McDowell, his luck ran out on Saturday. The two competitors battled evenly through most of the match, with Dubuisson taking a 1-up lead at the 16th hole that he held onto until the end.

Entering the week, Dubuisson likely had many golf fans exclaiming “Dub-WHO-son?” (I couldn’t resist). However, the Frenchman is 30th in the Official World Golf Rankings, and he’s steamrolled some formidable opponents thus far. Els, for his part, seems confident and determined. The Big Easy is loving his counterbalanced Yes! putter. With the way he’s playing, the 44-year-old could ride a hot flatstick past Dubuisson to victory this week. This, too, should be a great match.

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2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. holden madiq

    Feb 23, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Pulling for Els. Ricky is too weird, tucks his ears into his hat. Dubuisson is cool but overmatched. Day is the best player in the semis, will probably win

  2. Mx

    Feb 23, 2014 at 5:25 am

    I hope rickie wins. He deserves it after putting in a lot of effort in the off season. Would love to see Ernie in the final.

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Photos from the 2024 Players Championship

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On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.

We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.

Check out our photos below!

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Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

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GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.

We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.

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Photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic

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GolfWRX is on site this week at the Cognizant Classic —FKA the Honda Classic.

The first leg of the PGA Tour’s traditional “Florida swing,” the Cognizant Classic continues to be contested at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, host course of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. The course is known for its famed “Bear Trap,” a three-hole stretch of holes that take their name from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 2002.

The Bear Trap includes No. 15 (a par 3), No. 16 (a par 4), and No. 17 (a par 4). All three holes involve water and have led to several big numbers from Tour players over the years.

Check out an assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums below.

We’ll continue to update the galleries as more photos flow in from Florida!

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