Presidents Cup match previews: Saturday's foursomes

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MELBOURNE, Australia -- The third day of the 2011 Presidents Cup consists of two sessions. The first contains five foursomes matches and the second will consist of five four-ball matches. The U.S. enters Day 3 with a 7-5 advantage.

Here's a preview of each of the five Saturday morning matches, with predictions from PGATOUR.COM staffers Mike McAllister and Helen Ross, who are on-site at Royal Melbourne.

MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS: Who will win Saturday's Foursomes.

Match 13

Bubba Watson Webb Simpson VS. 7 a.m. (local) 3 p.m. ET (Fri.) Robert Allenby Geoff Ogilvy

QUICK LOOK
The Americans have been unbeatable in the leadoff position but International Captain Greg Norman is shrewdly sending his veteran Aussies off first. If Allenby and Ogilvy can make some headway early, they could set the tone for the Foursomes and get the partisan crowd involved. That would be huge for the home side. "I'm excited about the match," Ogilvy said. "Webb and Bubba, those two have played well the first two days. We are going to see another golf course tomorrow morning, different from today, depending what the weather gives us." Simpson and Watson are one of two unbeaten and untied American teams and the rookies like to go off first. Ogilvy and Allenby, both of whom are from Melbourne and have something to prove, have history together, -- winning the only match they've played together in four-balls two years ago.
PREDICTIONS
Helen Ross - USA. "I know Ogilvy and Allenby are determined but I'm going to go with the Americans who have been nearly flawless so far."
Mike McAllister - International. "The first match could be the most entertaining of the day, with the Americans feeding off each other and the Aussies feeding off the crowd. This is a hometown call."

Match 14

Bill Haas Matt Kuchar VS. 7:12 a.m. (local) 3:12 p.m. ET (Fri.) Ernie Els Ryo Ishikawa

QUICK LOOK
International captain Greg Norman gave Els the choice of playing with the young Japanese star for the third time and the big South African was game. The two were 4 under in their foursomes match with Simpson and Watson on Thursday and even though they lost, Els was pleased with the way they meshed. "As far as Ernie's concerned, they played well," Norman said. Haas has gone to the final hole in both his matches with Nick Watney, but the two are 0-1-1. So U.S. Captain Fred Couples decided to sit Watney, who didn't make a birdie in four-balls on Friday, and put Haas with Kuchar. "Bittersweet," said Haas about the two days with good buddy Watney. Kuchar battled to a halve in foursomes and was terrific on Friday, teaming with Steve Stricker for a win. His steady game should complement Haas, who is one of the U.S. Team's best ball-strikers.
PREDICTIONS
Helen Ross - USA. "Tee to green, the Americans will be very solid."
Mike McAllister - USA. "All credit to Els for wanting to continue his partnership with Ishikawa. But Kuchar's in really good form right now."

Match 15

Hunter Mahan David Toms VS. 7:24 a.m. (local) 3:24 p.m. ET (Fri.) Retief Goosen Charl Schwartzel

QUICK LOOK
It's a rematch of Friday's final four-ball, which Goosen and Schwartzel controlled on the way to a 2 and 1 victory. The Americans only made one birdie in their best-ball pairing but meshed much better in foursomes -- shooting 3 under and making birdie on their first three holes in crushing K.T. Kim and Y.E. Yang. Schwartzel and Geoff Ogilvy gave up a halve in Thursday's foursomes after leading 2 up with four holes remaining, while Goosen and Robert Allenby ran into the red-hot American team of Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk the same day. Both South Africans have understated personalities and steady games while Schwartzel's length should be an asset. And obviously they have the momentum off Friday's win.
PREDICTIONS
Helen Ross - USA. "The South Africans were solid on Friday -- Norman might have hit upon a gold mine here."
Mike McAllister - USA. "If Goosen-Schwartzel continue to play well together, Norman may kick himself for not pairing them up on Day 1."

Match 16

Tiger Woods Dustin Johnson VS. 7:36 a.m. (local) 3:36 p.m. ET (Fri.) Adam Scott K.J. Choi

QUICK LOOK
Tiger Woods has never started a Presidents Cup 0-2, so the early Captain's Pick has something to prove. But while he and Johnson have looked forward to playing with each other, they never got untracked in their Friday four-ball match -- although they did take Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day to the 18th hole. Someone will need to hit fairways for this big-hitting duo to prosper on Saturday. Scott and Choi took down the previously unbeaten Woods-Steve Stricker team in foursomes on Thursday -- a 7-and-6 win that tied for the most lopsided in history -- so they won't be intimidated. They also have a 1-1 record in four-ball so there is a considerable comfort zone.
PREDICTIONS
Helen Ross - International. "Scott and Choi are too steady and not easily intimidated."
Mike McAllister - USA. "Maybe I'm living in the past, but hard to imagine that Tiger will lose his third straight here."

Match 17

Phil Mickelson Jim Furyk VS. 7:48 a.m. (local) 3:48 p.m. ET (Fri.) Aaron Baddeley Jason Day

QUICK LOOK
In their last 25 holes, the Mickelson-Furyk tandem have led after 23 of them in winning both matches. They've been terrific in both formats, and their intelligence in handling the conditions that Royal Melbourne has thrown at the players is paying big dividends. In fact, their experience may help counteract the youthful enthusiasm and hometown support that the two young Aussies will get. Baddeley played better down the stretch Friday as he and Day beat Tiger Woods-Dustin Johnson. But right now, Mickelson-Furyk are looking unbeatable. It's a great anchor match in the Saturday morning session.
PREDICTIONS
Helen Ross - USA. "This should be an exciting match but the Americans have just been too steady."
Mike McAllister - International. "The rest of The Presidents Cup might very well hinge on this match. If Baddeley-Day can knock off this formidable pair, then the Internationals will have a huge momentum boost heading into afternoon four-balls."