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Friday's Presidents Cup capsules
Courtesy of PGATour.com
| Match 1 |
| United States Team |
Insight and Analysis |
International Team |
Phil Mickelson
(1-0-0)
Chris DiMarco
(1-0-0) |
International analysis: The reigning U.S. Open champ and the rookie from Argentina disposed of one of the U.S. Team's best hopes in Davis Love III and Kenny Perry on Thursday. Campbell and Cabrera might have been underrated as partners prior to the Foursomes, but they'll certainly be taken seriously now.
Key statistic: Both players seemed comfortable with their pairing in Foursomes. While neither player has enough starts on the PGA TOUR for official statistics, both players are long off the tee and can obviously handle the excitement. Cabrera made a few key putts in the first match, but will have to keep it up for this team to be successful.
U.S. analysis: Mickelson got the proverbial monkey off his back on Thursday when he teamed with DiMarco for a 1-up Foursomes victory. It was Mickelson's first win after six straight losses in Presidents Cup play that included a dismal 0-5 showing in 2003 in South Africa. The two wanted to go off first on Friday, and could be a formidable team for the Americans.
Key statistic: Mickelson ranks no worse than seventh in birdie percentage on the par 3s, 4s and 5s. Both he and DiMarco are in the top-10 in scrambling, too. DiMarco is excellent on the greens, ranking fourth in three-putt avoidance and ninth in one-putt percentage. If these two play their regular games, this is probably the best pairing of the day.
Outlook: Mickelson and DiMarco are gamblers who should thrive in this format while their International counterparts appear to be hitting their stride. The crowd will clearly be behind the Americans and this match could be one of the most entertaining of the day.
Projected Outcome: United States Team wins.
|
Michael Campbell
(1-0-0)
Angel Cabrera
(1-0-0) |
| Match 2 |
| United States Team |
Insight and Analysis |
International Team |
Fred Couples
(0-1-0)
David Toms
(0-1-0) |
International analysis: Couples saw first-hand how well Scott and Goosen partnered on Thursday. Goosen is riding the momentum of two victories overseas in his last three starts while Scott has regained control of his game after an extended break. Their games as similar, as are their demeanors.
Key statistic: This is a formidable pairing, and it should be more of the same in the Four-ball format. Scott is currently ranked third in par-3 birdie percentage while Goosen is second in par-5 birdie or better percentage.
U.S. analysis: Couples said he was outclassed on Thursday, and Toms battled a balky putter. So both have some extra motivation in Four-ball as they play what appears to be emerging as the International's most formidable team.
Key statistic: Toms is third on TOUR in birdie average at 4.22 and fourth in both par-4 and 5ar-5 scoring average. Couples ranks 19th in greens in regulation, but it is his putting that will ultimately decide this match.
Projected Outcome: International Team wins.
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Retief Goosen
(1-0-0)
Adam Scott
(1-0-0) |
| Match 3 |
| United States Team |
Insight and Analysis |
International Team |
Justin Leonard
(1-0-0)
Scott Verplank
(1-0-0) |
International analysis: Immelman didn't play like a rookie, did he? An 82-footer at the fourth hole, and he cozied it to 12 inches at the next. Then he seals the match with a 2-footer for a 6-and-5 win. He's been having a great year, Weir's struggled big time. Maybe Immelman is the perfect guy to give Weir a chance to take a risk or two and maybe help turn that season around.
Key statistic: The surprise pairing of the first day, the players played extremely well together and could feed off each other again today. Immelman has the length to tackle the par-5s, while Weir could be tough to beat on the par 3s where he ranked in the top-10 in birdie percentage in both 2003 and 2004.
U.S. analysis: These guys know each other's games inside and out. They grew up playing each other in Dallas and wanted to be joined at the hip this week. They were strong in the opening match and you'd expect that to continue. They're both gritty, gusty players. Verplank bounced back from some so-so shots early. Chances of both of them being out of the same hole is slim.
Key statistic: Do not be deceived by the lack of length on this team, they will be tough in Four-balls. Verplank ranks 12th in par-5 birdie or better percentage, and Leonard is ninth on TOUR in par-4 scoring.
Outlook: This one could be very interesting. Surprise first-day winners going against mirror images who asked to be paired together. Both teams are 1-0. Halving this one isn't out of the question, but it might fall on Immelman's shoulders.
Projected Outcome: United States Team wins.
|
Mike Weir
(1-0-0)
Trevor Immelman
(1-0-0) |
| Match 4 |
| United States Team |
Insight and Analysis |
International Team |
Fred Funk
(0-0-1)
Stewart Cink
(0-1-0) |
International analysis: We liked Singh with Mark Hensby, but what do we know? The best player this side of Tiger Woods this season could play with anyone on his team, but Gary Player has put him with Clark. Clark's a bit more outgoing and a great putter. We can only assume Player either sees this is a combo that can't lose a hole.
Key statistic: Clark could be the best putter on the International Team, ranking ninth on TOUR in both putting average and birdie or better conversion percentage, and at 3.86 he is 13th in average birdies per round. Singh has made birdie or better on over 50 percent of the per-5s he has played this year and ranks seventh in par breaker percentage. Their opponents are going to have to go pretty low to keep up with this duo.
U.S. analysis: With Jim Furyk hurt, perhaps Nicklaus decided to slide Funk over to this pairing to get Cink back to the place he was in 2000 when he and then-partner Kirk Triplett were all but unbeatable. Both are steady players with Funk having his best season ever at 49. They'll both find fairways and greens.
Key statistic: Both Cink and Funk are both accurate players and could put pressure on their opponents by keeping it in play and minimizing their mistakes. The problem they face is while Singh and Clark are both in the top-10 in par-5 birdie or better percentage, Cink and Funk are both ranked higher than 135th, and the two might not be able to make enough birdies to match the potential International scoring machine.
Outlook: The change-your-partners match. Both captains shook it up from the foursomes and came up with these two pairings. Don't ask us to explain them. Singh could be there to steady Clark, one of the best putters on TOUR, and get him on a better track. If nothing else, it's a rematch for Singh and Funk, who halved their opening match with other partners.
Projected Outcome: International Team wins.
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Vijay Singh
(0-0-1)
Tim Clark
(0-1-0) |
| Match 5 |
| United States Team |
Insight and Analysis |
International Team |
Davis Love III
(0-1-0)
Kenny Perry
(0-1-0) |
International analysis: Lonard and O'Hern both lost their Foursomes matches with other partners and now face a tough U.S. squad that also is coming off a loss together. Lonard teamed with Stephen Leaney in 2003 to win his only Four-ball match against Phil Mickelson and Fred Funk.
Key statistic: Accuracy is the key to this pairing. O'Hern is the most accurate driver on TOUR, while Lonard is extremely accurate on his approaches -- ranking 10th in proximity to the hole from 50-125 yards and seventh when over 200 yards. The problem this team will have is scoring, as they are both are ranked higher than 90th on TOUR in Par Breaker Percentage.
U.S. analysis: Nicklaus still believes this is one of his more solid pairings and two years ago in South Africa they handled K.J. Choi and Retief Goosen, 2 and 1. Late stumble in Foursomes loss Thursday has to motivate them.
Key statistic: Both looked uncomfortable playing in their Foursome match, and the change of format will probably help their games. They are both the longer off the tee than there opponents and hit more greens, but it is going to be their play on the green that decides this match.
Outlook: Perry probably turns this towards a U.S. win because he knows how to make a lot of birdies. He and Love can probably use their length advantage to wear down the Internationals.
Projected Outcome: United States Team wins.
|
Peter Lonard
(0-1-0)
Nick O'Hern
(0-1-0) |
| Match 6 |
| United States Team |
Insight and Analysis |
International Team |
Tiger Woods
(0-1-0)
Jim Furyk
(0-0-1) |
International analysis: Gary Player's choice to take on Woods in singles is Appleby, who has a couple of wins in Four-ball and probably would want to preserve a team match this early in the week. Hensby earned a half in his first match playing Foursomes with Vijay Singh, but will have to drive it better on his own if he is to help Appleby.
Key statistic: Hensby ranks 25th in par-4 birdie percentage and on par-5s in 2005, Appleby has made more than nine birdies for every one bogey, the highest rate of any player at The Presidents Cup. Also, Appleby is tenth on TOUR in putts over 25 feet, making him a dangerous opponent in match-play. The countrymen will present a tough match, but may not make enough birdies to top their opponents in this round.
U.S. analysis: Woods may find himself in a 2-on-1 match if Furyk, nursing a rib injury, can't complete the match. Or he could be playing singles if Furyk can't make it to first tee, which he might prefer, giving his 0-6 streak in this format. Most of his losses have been by slim 2 and 1 margins.
Key statistic: Woods ranks fifth in Greens in Regulation and Furyk ranks ninth, so between the two at least one of them should be on the green in regulation on every hole. Add to it that they rank 17th and 18th in Putts per Greens in Regulation respectively, and this duo could make a birdie on every hole.
Outlook: Aussies have to be favored, given Furyk's health and Woods' track record in this format, but how much longer does the International side expect to keep the No. 1 player in the world down in Four-ball? Furyk's grittiness may just rub off and bring the U.S. a point.
Projected Outcome: United States Team wins
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Stuart Appleby
(0-1-0)
Mark Hensby
(0-0-1) |
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