Presidents Cup match previews: Saturday's four-ball

text size

MELBOURNE, Australia -- The third day of the 2011 Presidents Cup consists of two sessions. The second session in the afternoon consists of five four-ball matches. Here's a preview of each of the five Saturday afternoon matches, with predictions from PGATOUR.COM staffers Mike McAllister and Helen Ross, who are on-site at Royal Melbourne. (all times tentative

MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS: Who will win Saturday's Four-ball matches?.

Match 18

Bubba Watson Webb Simpson VS. 11:50 a.m. (local) 7:50 p.m. ET (Fri.) Retief Goosen Charl Schwartzel

QUICK LOOK
Can the South African duo slow down this American pair that has been perfect through the first three sessions? Goosen and Schwartzel knocked off Hunter Mahan-David Toms in Friday's four-ball match, but Watson and Simpson have the most momentum of any twosome playing in the afternoon. Fred Couples said he wouldn've been pleased with a 2-1-0 record for his two rookies at this point, so he's "thrilled to death" about the 3-0-0 mark. "I'm very very proud of them and happy for them," Couples said.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Too much momentum on the American side."
Helen Ross -- U.S. "Simpson and Watson have been the week's big surprise but nothing they do shocks me anymore."

Match 19

Tiger Woods Dustin Johnson VS. 12:04 p.m. (local) 8:04 p.m. ET (Fri.) K.T. Kim Y.E. Yang

QUICK LOOK
Woods and Johnson lost to Jason Day-Aaron Baddeley in Friday's four-ball match, but they come off a win in Saturday morning's foursomes, giving Tiger his first point of this Presidents Cup. Kim and Yang played together in Thursday's foursomes, getting stomped by Hunter Mahan-David Toms. Perhaps the four-ball format will work better for the Korean duo. Certainly they'll be fresh, having sat out Saturday morning
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - U.S. "Woods-Johnson finally found a winning formula late Saturday morning."
Helen Ross -- U.S. "Woods and Johnson got some momentum with their Foursomes win."

Match 20

Steve Stricker Matt Kuchar VS. 12:18 p.m. (local) 8:18 p.m. ET (Fri.) Geoff Ogilvy K.J. Choi

QUICK LOOK
Stricker and Kuchar made a strong pair in winning their four-ball match against Y.E. Yang-Robert Allenby on Friday. Kuchar was particularly impressive, but he comes off a loss in Saturday foursomes with partner Bill Haas. Stricker sat out the session. Ogilvy and Choi also played well on Friday, beating Haas-Nick Watney in a match that went to the 18th hole. Both players, though, were on the losing end of their Saturday morning match with different partners.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "Should be a close match, but Ogilvy will find a way down the stretch."
Helen Ross -- U.S. "Stricker should be rested and Kuchar just needs to keep playing like he's been playing."

Match 21

Hunter Mahan Bill Haas VS. 12:32 a.m. (local) 8:32 p.m. ET (Fri.) Aaron Baddeley Jason Day

QUICK LOOK
Baddeley and Day are together for the fourth consecutive match. They won their Friday four-ball match, beating Tiger Woods-Dustin Johnson on the 18th hole. Day played well in the opening session but has struggled since, leaving Baddeley to shoulder the load. Mahan will be playing with a new partner now that David Toms is sitting. But Mahan and Haas were on the losing end of their respective four-ball matches on Friday.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "I expect Day to find his game this afternoon."
Helen Ross - U.S. "Two of the U.S. team's best ball-strikers will prevail."

Match 22

Jim Furyk Nick Watney VS. 12:46 a.m. (local) 8:46 p.m. ET (Fri.) Adam Scott Ernie Els

QUICK LOOK
In a surprise move, Phil Mickelson is sitting out the session, meaning Furyk will have a new partner for the first time this week. Watney did not play Saturday morning; his last action was in Friday's four-ball, where he and Bill Haas lost to Ogilvy-Choi. Likewise, Els is getting a new partner, having played with Ryo Ishikawa for the first three matches. Scott and Els have played together in three previous Presidents Cup (2003, 2007, 2009) but always in foursomes -- never in four-ball. They are 3-2-0 in their five matches together.
PREDICTIONS
Mike McAllister - International. "Els is feeling better after his foursomes win in the morning."
Helen Ross -- Internationa. "Els and Scott need to play well."