Alas, even the potent Phil Mickelson fell. He made it deeper than he has in over a decade but, in the long run, even he could not make the Final Four at the WGC-Dell Match Play. None of my choices made it to the Sunday fits, so I not have a dog inside the combat.
However, we're left with a fascinating foursome to contend for the Walter Hagen Cup nowadays.
In one corner we have a semifinal battle between Bill Haas and Jon Rahm. Haas wasn't firing on all eight cylinders when the week started, but he's found his groove now. And Rahm hasn't been out of his groove all week, not even for a moment.
In the other corner we have Dustin Johnson and Hideto Tanihara. Johnson wasn't even tied for a hole this week until well into the fifth match Saturday afternoon... and even then, he didn't fall behind. And Tanihara -- well, he's not so much an underdog as just an unknown quantity. Dustin remarked that he didn't even know who he was, but Hideto's play this week has clearly announced his identity to everyone.
And you didn't want to understand Japanese to pay attention him, loud and clean!
On paper, you need to expect that Johnson will face Rahm for the Cup. And if that happens, I simply don't know who will win. Dustin has been on a roll for weeks now, however Jon has been just as strong, despite now not posting a huge range of wins. If I needed to deliver one an edge, I'd provide it to Rahm absolutely due to the fact his putting appears slightly extra regular than Dustin's.
But don't quote me on that. This is match play, after all.
And if we write off the alternative players, we do so at our own chance. Haas has confirmed in the beyond to have greater mettle than his easygoing way might imply. And Tanihara has 14 wins on the Japan Golf Tour, three of them coming just ultimate year. He's no longer going everywhere.
This can be one of the first-rate Match Plays we have visible in many years. I'm without a doubt looking forward to it nowadays!
Even if all my picks went bye-bye too early.
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