Finchem Suggests WGC Changes

The World Golf Championships which have been in the same U.S. cities for the last five years could see a change now with a new television contract in place

For the moment though most of the attention is on the Match Play Championship.

It moved to the high desert north of Tucson in 2007, and the four-year contract with Dove Mountain ended in the sleet and snow at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. There is an option for another year, and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said speculation that the Accenture Match Play Championship is moving for 2012 would be "inaccurate."

"I'd say right now that the most likely scenario is going to be it stays here," Finchem said.

So much depends on the rest of the schedule.

The tour is about to enter negotiations on a new television contract, which expires in 2012. Tour executives have been hammering out various models in recent months and are close to presenting a proposed schedule of events.

"We're not uncomfortable here," Finchem said. "It's worked well and we have a good partnership with the people here. The facilities are great. It's just that as we get into television later this year, it forces us to look at the overall calendar and make sure the calendar works. As you know, there's a lot of moving parts to that."

Chief among them is whether the NFL schedule expands and pushes the Super Bowl deep in February. Another part of the equation is the Fall Series and the tour's interest in adding tournaments in Asia. It already has one in Malaysia, along with the WGC in Shanghai.

"Then you have the traditional part of it, which is tournaments wanting to move in certain situations," he said. "Right now, this tournament is at the end of the West Coast, and that appears to be a strong possibility that would continue."

Finchem said the tour would decide on the Match Play venue within three months to give local organizers time to prepare. Then again, that's also true for all the PGA Tour events on the West Coast swing, and even some in Florida.

It's all about the calendar.

"Like here, if we wanted to play this a lot earlier, it gets to be a struggle weather-wise," he said. "All the WGCs, China included, you've got to be careful in terms of player movement and making sure it fits with the different tours. We've already created problems with ourselves globally with the expanded season. It's complicated."

Part of the headache this year is the South African Open being held the same week as the Presidents Cup, especially with the top five players in the International team standings from South Africa.

As for the Match Play Championship?

"I'd say we're going to review it, and the likely conclusion is we stay here," he said. "But it's not about here. It's about the calendar."

Luke Donald Wins WGC-Accenture

Luke Donald WGC-Accenture Match Play winner 2011

Luke Donald spoiled Martin Kaymer's rise to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking by winning the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday with a performance so dominant he never played the 18th hole all week.

On a bizarre final day in the high desert, which began with snow covering the fairways, Donald pulled ahead for good with a birdie on the par-5 11th and a par on the next hole, eventually closing out Kaymer on No. 16 for a 3-and-2 victory.

The consolation prize for Kaymer is going to No. 1 in the career, which he assured by reaching the championship match.

Donald was in more dire need of this trophy, however.

It was his first win in America in five years, and it was only his second win worldwide since he captured the 2006 Honda Classic. The 33-year-old Englishman had done just about everything right except win.

He took care of that in a week like no other in the 13-year history of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Donald played only 89 holes in six matches and never trailed in any of them. In fact, he led after 81 of those holes.

"It feels amazing," Donald said. "I had a bit of a monkey on my back. I hadn't won in the U.S. in five years."

Donald won his first World Golf Championships event, and became the second player from England to capture the Match Play Championship. He goes to a career-best No. 3 in the world to continue a European resurgence in the ranking.

The next world ranking will be Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Donald and Graeme McDowell. It's the first time since March 15, 1992, that the top four spots have been occupied by Europeans.

Matt Kuchar defeated Bubba Watson in the consolation match and will go to No. 10 in the world.

This World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship will stand out for reasons beyond golf.

A late winter storm dusted Dove Mountain with nearly an inch of snow, and the fairways were blankets of white in the morning. Donald looked out his hotel room and suggested on Twitter that a snowball fight determine who had honors on the first tee.

The snow had melted when they teed off, although dark clouds on the horizon loomed. Sleet began falling when the championship match reached the third green, and play was stopped when sleet covered the fourth fairway.

"Do we have to keep playing?" Kaymer asked chief referee Mark Russell.

Kaymer, who purchased a snood to wear around his neck, pulled it up over his mouth and looked like a real Western gunslinger (except for the pattern of flies on fish hooks). Donald took out his blue-and-white umbrella and crouched beneath it.

After about 10 minutes, when the fairways turned from white back to green, play resumed.

Donald seized on the moment. Already 1 up from his 18-foot birdie on the par-5 second, he watched Kaymer hit a fade over the bunker to about 7 feet, then answered with a shot into 2 feet for a conceded birdie. Kaymer missed, and Donald was 2 up.

On the next hole, Kaymer pulled his drive into the desert and fell another hole down.

Donald three-putted for bogey from below the ridge to lose his first hole, and Kaymer squared the match at the turn with a birdie on the eighth and a bogey on No. 9, where Donald hit his approach into a desert bush and had to return to his original spot in the fairway.

The turning point might have been No. 10.

Kaymer had all the momentum and blistered a tee shot down the middle, while Donald went from a scrubby lie in the desert to a waste area short of the green. Donald, however, blasted out to 3 feet for a conceded par.

He took the lead on the 11th by making an 8-foot birdie putt as Kaymer missed his birdie from just inside 6 feet, and Donald regained all the moment on the next hole when Kaymer came up short into the sand and took bogey.

Donald went 3 up on the 15th when Kaymer missed a birdie putt from inside 4 feet, and the "Germanator" conceded the match on the 16th when he failed to hole a 30-foot birdie putt.

It was the first time the championship match was decided over 18 holes instead of 36.

WGC-Accenture Match Play Final Preview

LUKE DONALD - England

The Englihsman has been the most dominant and consistent performer this week. Despite not being among the TOUR's biggest hitters, he's been able to dial in at Dove Mountain, hitting nearly 70 percent of his fairways and more than 75 percent of his greens.

He's well-rested, having played just 73 holes in the first five matches. On Saturday, he won his matches in a combined 5 hours, 56 minutes, compared to Kaymer's 7 hours, 59 minutes. Plus, he's mentally well-rested, having only been pushed in one match (the second round against Edoardo Molinari). In a long week like this, that's a substantial benefit. The only drawback: the final is now 18 holes instead of 36, which would have been even better for Donald.

He's got the undulating greens at Dove Mountain figured out. He's made 435 feet worth of putts, and has three of the six longest putts made this week. Kaymer has made 416 feet worth of putts, but he's played 12 more holes.

MARTIN KAYMER - Germany

He's battle-tested. While Donald has had it easy in most of his matches, Kaymer has been forced to grind in his last four matches. He had to go overtime to beat Justin Rose, went 17 holes against Hunter Mahan and went the 18-hole distance in beating Miguel Angel Jimenez and Bubba Watson. Donald has not even played the 18th hole this week. If it's close, Kaymer could have the advantage.

He's longer off the tee. Donald estimates that he's going to give up 25 yards to Kaymer. That could pay off on a course that's 7,800 yards long. It may also pay off more if weather becomes an issue and the normally thin desert air turns heavy. 

There's a reason why he's No. 1 in the world. Kaymer has enjoyed a meteoric rise, having won four European Tour events and the PGA Championship since the start of the 2010 season. Donald won one European Tour event last year but hasn't won a PGA TOUR in five years. Kaymer is used to slamming the door.

WGC-Accenture Match Play Snow Delay

Looks like there is a dusting of snow on the ground at Dove Mountain right now.

It’s starting to melt already, though, and play for the final day of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship is scheduled to begin on time.

Luke Donald, who will play Martin Kaymer, in the championship at 12:20 p.m. MT (2:20 p.m. ET) had this to say on Twitter: Check out the snow, pre round snow ball fight to see who has the honor off the first??

Bubba Watson, who faces Matt Kuchar in the consolation finals at 12:05 p.m. MT (2:05 p.m. ET) tweeted this: Yessiree it snowed last night!!! That was green grass now all snow.

“Aim for the blue sky” was Nick Faldo’s tweet.

And here’s the weather forecast. The current temperature is 39 degrees with a high in the mid-50s expected. There could be a shower in the morning but partly cloudy skies are expected in the afternoon. The winds will be out of the west at 10-20 mph.

Kaymer's Watson Win Earns No 1 Spot

Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer at WGC-Accenture 

Martin Kaymer will be the new No. 1 player in the world when the next Official World Golf Rankings come out.

Will he be able to celebrate with his first World Golf Championships win?

Kaymer, the 26-year-old German, assured himself of overtaking Lee Westwood atop the world rankings by beating Bubba Watson 1 up in Saturday afternoon’s semifinals of the Accenture Match Play Championships.

Kaymer will now face Englishman Luke Donald for the title Sunday afternoon.

Kaymer will become the first German to be ranked No. 1 since Bernhard Langer spent three weeks at No. 1 when the rankings were first launched in 1986. Westwood had been ranked No. 1 for the past 17 weeks since replacing Tiger Woods at the top.

“I definitely will take a picture of that moment,” Kaymer said. “It’s a very proud moment, for me and for my family.”

But getting there wasn’t easy for the reigning PGA champion. He didn’t put away the determined Watson until he rolled in an eight-foot par putt to halve the 18th hole.

“It’s sad because I lost,” Watson said. “But I played good. I didn’t really mess up too much. He just beat me.”

Watson, 2 down going into 17, hit a terrific approach shot to six feet to birdie the hole and extend the match.

But his drive at 18 landed in a fairway bunker, and his second shot hit the front of the raised green and tumbled back off the putting surface. Kaymer had to chip from behind the green but saved the par with his clutch putt.

The match was nip and tuck the entire way, with neither player gaining more than a one-hole advantage through the first 15 holes. “It was a very hard match,” Kaymer said. “Up and down the entire round.”

Kaymer claimed the first hole with a birdie and a Watson double bogey. At that point, you wondered if the fatigue of rallying from 5 down on the back nine to beat J.B. Holmes 30 minutes earlier had worn him out.

But when Kaymer conceded the second hole after a poor tee shot, the match was quickly back to all square and the two settled into their duel after that.

On the par-5 eight hole, Watson took his first lead, winning with a birdie. But he gave back the lead two holes later with a bogey.

Kaymer won the 13th with a two-putt birdie to go 1 up, but gave that away with a bogey at the 14th.

Just as quickly, though, he regained the advantage, working out of a greenside bunker at the drivable par-4 15th for birdie while Watson was forced to take a penalty shot after a poor tee shot into the desert. Kaymer’s 13-foot putt for birdie gave him the lead for good.

At the par-3 16th, Watson’s tee shot landed past the pin in the primary rough, and he failed to get up and down for par.

Donald Convincing WGC Win Over Kuchar

Luke Donald and Matt Kuchar on Saturday at WGC-Accenture

Luke Donald had polished off two victories in the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship before the clock even struck 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Donald’s golf was nearly flawless on a windy day at Dove Mountain. He didn’t go past the 14th hole in either the morning quarterfinals of the all-important afternoon semis where he made short work of Matt Kuchar, winning by a 6 and 5 score.

“It’s nice to get done early,” Donald said. “This was a long day. … It will give me more energy for tomorrow.

Donald’s impressive run means there will be Brit playing for the championship on Sunday for the third straight year. And if he wins, Donald will become the No. 3 player in the world – the highest ranking of his career.

The Englishman, who is currently ranked 10th, has never been higher than sixth.

"I won’t be focusing on the World Rankings, those kind of things take care of themselves," Donald said. "That would be an added bonus. I’ll be concentrating on trying to beat whoever I’m playing against and trying to pick up a trophy."

With rain and snow in the forecast, though, Donald knows Dove Mountain will be a different golf course on Sunday.

“I’s going to be quite a bit colder, and the ball is not going to be traveling so far,” said Donald, who has one of the best short games on the PGA TOUR.

The tone for the semifinal was set early. With five birdies in his first nine holes, Donald made the turn 6 up on Kuchar. He did lose two holes on the back nine but earned the victory with a 6-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole.

Kuchar knew he ran into a buzz-saw on Saturday afternoon so he couldn’t be too disappointed.

“As an overall week, yeah, it’s been a good week,’ he said. “Four wins and Luke just played great. … It seemed like every hole he had a 5‑footer for birdie and made it. Tough conditions.

“I enjoy match play. You just never know. Had I got somebody else on today’s round, I may have still been able to come out with a win. But you face Luke Donald on a day he’s really hot, you pack your bags early.”

Kuchar isn’t alone in that assessment this week. In five matches, Donald has never trailed, and he’s yet to play the 18th hole. He’s made 27 birdies and just four bogeys, three of which came in the same match.

All in all, Donald has needed just 73 holes in five matches to reach the championship, which is the fewest number of holes played by any finalist in tournament history. The previous record was 77 holes by Tiger Woods in 2003.

"I’ve been playing good this week," Donald acknowledged. "I’ve been stringing together a lot of good rounds, making birdies, and not too many mistakes. The greens, I haven’t really missed anything. I’ve been tough to beat this week and hopefully that can continue tomorrow."

Watson Through Match Play on 19th

J.B. Holmes congratulates Bubba Watson

On the 19th hole Bubba Watson was able to play his ball, which had settled at the base of a bush. “Eat your heart out Phil Mickelson,” Watson said just before he hit the ball that landed just right of the green.

J.B. Holmes, though, had to take a penalty drop, going all the way over into the 18th fairway. After Watson waded through the desert to help his opponent see the line to the 18th green, Holmes hit his third short short of the putting surface.

Holmes chipped first to 8 feet while Watson pitched to 3 feet. Holmes holed the bogey putt to put the pressure on Watson’s par effort – but the Accenture Match Play Championship rookie was equal to the task

Watson, who rallied from 5 down with 8 holes remaining, will now have 30 minutes before he tees it up in the semifinals with Martin Kaymer.

Kaymer Closer to Number One Spot

Miguel Angel Jimenez congratulates Martin Kaymer

Martin Kaymer is now one match win away from claiming the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking by beating Miguel Angel Jimenez 1 up in Saturday morning’s quarterfinals.

Kaymer now advanced to the Accenture Match Play semifinals for the first time in four starts in this event and will play the winner of the J.B. Holmes-Bubba Watson match.

Should the German win his semifinal match, he not only will move into Sunday’s final, he’ll also assure himself of overtaking Lee Westwood at the top. Kaymer is currently No. 2 but only needs to reach the finals (not win it) to become No. 1.

The German put on a shot-making and putting clinic early, then had to withstand a furious rally by his Ryder Cup teammate from Spain down the stretch.

“The way I played golf, at least for the first 14 or 15 holes, was very good,” Kaymer said.

Kaymer hit 11 of his first 12 greens in regulation and also rolled in three putts outside 25 feet. The last of those came at the par-5 11th when Kaymer produced a birdie despite having to take a penalty stroke after his tee shot found the desert.

Kaymer ended up winning the hole, even though Jimenez had the huge advantage after their tee shots. “Absolutely crazy,” Kaymer said of the turn of events. “He made a mistake with the chip that he didn’t give himself a chance for birdie and I holed a 25‑footer for birdie, so this was just very fortunate.”

After 14 holes, Kaymer was a bogey-free 5 under and led Jimenez 4 up.

But suddenly, Kaymer started hitting loose shots and the Spaniard clawed back into the match.

At the drivable par-4 15th, Kaymer found a greenside bunker with his tee shot and couldn’t get on the green with his second shot. Meanwhile, Jimenez rolled in a birdie putt from outside 13 feet — his only birdie on the back side — to win the hole.

Kaymer then bogeyed the par-3 16th when he failed to get up and down from the primary rough after a poor tee shot. He bogeyed the 17th after another poor tee shot, followed by an approach that came up short of the green.

With Jimenez winning three straight holes, the match surprisingly went to the 18th hole, but Jimenez failed to find the green in regulation, giving him no chance at a birdie to extend the match.

“You kind of think it’s over, then all of the sudden, you make a couple of mistakes,” Kaymer said. “It was a little shaky in the end.” 

Mike McAllister

Matt Kuchar Ends WGC Yang Hopes

Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar wasn’t at his best in Saturday morning’s quarterfinal match against Y.E. Yang. But he didn’t need to be as Yang struggled on the front nine, allowing Kuchar to take control. 

The American then held off a late rally to win 2 and 1, putting him in the Saturday afternoon semifinals against Luke Donald at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

“I’ve been improving every day,” Kuchar said. “I keep getting steadier and steadier.”

Kuchar had four birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey in a somewhat messy match for both players. Yang, who had three birdies, three bogeys and one double, said he didn’t get much sleep the night before.

“There was a party going on right in the back of my hotel, so I didn’t get to sleep until about 12,” Yang said. “But not to make any excuses. Kuchar played really well. I just think my game ended up being a bit shaky.”

Both players halved the par-5 second with birdies and the par-3 third with double bogeys after they each found the water protecting the green.

But Kuchar took the lead on the next hole with a well-struck approach shot to five feet for birdie. He won the next hole with another birdie, this time from inside 12 feet.

Starting at the seventh, Yang went through a stretch in which he bogeyed three consecutive holes, and by the turn Kuchar was 4 up and firmly in command.

Yang responded by winning the 10th with a birdie and then Kuchar gave away the par-5 13th with a three-putt bogey.

With his lead cut in half, though, Kuchar steadied the ship, ending the match with four consecutive pars that Yang could not beat.

“It got down to a 2‑up lead from a 4‑up lead,” Kuchar said. “I said that’s still a good place to be.” 

Mike McAllister

Donald Defeats Moore at WGC Accenture

Luke Donald

Luke Donald has reached his first Accenture Match Play semifinal after a dominating performance in which he rolled in four putts of 11 feet or longer in beating Ryan Moore 5 and 4 in Saturday morning’s quarterfinal.

Donald also threw in a hole out from 67 feet to win the sixth hole. He even added another hole-out with a chip on the 11th hole for birdie, although he lost the hole to a Moore eagle.

“I got off to a great start, got off early, and I think that chip in on 6 was a big turning point,” Donald said. “It looked like a tough up and down.”

In all, Donald posted seven birdies against just one bogey. Moore, meanwhile, had a rollercoaster morning, with one eagle, two birdies and four bogeys. Moore carded just five bogeys combined in his first three matches.

The Englishman will now play Matt Kuchar in Saturday afternoon’s semifinals. Kuchar, who finished second in the FedExCup last year, beat Y.E. Yang 2 and 1.

“Matt obviously had a great year last year and has continued this year,” Donald said. “He’s played strongly, I’m excited to be there, and hopefully I can continue the good work.”

Donald had never made it past the third round in six previous appearances here, but he’s been arguably the most consistent performer through the first four rounds here. He has yet to trail in any of his four matches and has led for all but four of the holes he’s played this week.

“He played great,” Moore said. “I knew I had to play well against him. I just made him a little too comfortable.”

Donald opened the match much like the previous two days, with a birdie at the first when he found the cup with an 11-foot, 11-inch putt.

Moore gave away the par-3 third when he found the water, but gained the hole back with a birdie at the fourth. Two holes later, Donald holed out with a chip-in from the fairway to go 2 up. Two holes later when he rolled in a birdie putt from 11 feet, 10 inches at the par-5 8th, he went 3 up and never looked back.

Moore didn’t help his cause by also giving away the ninth hole when he missed a four-foot putt for par. Another birdie putt from Donald at the 10th, this time from 11 feet, 9 inches, put him 5 up.

Moore won the 11th with an eagle, even though Donald produced his second chip-in of the match from the rough after he chunked it out of the bunker.

And just for good measure, Donald denied Moore a win at the 12th hole by saving par with a putt from 11 feet.

“I didn’t put too much pressure on him early on and kind of gave a couple of holes to him,” Moore said. “You can’t give holes away. I did that a couple of times early and let him pad his lead and from there, I think he just cruised.”

On the 14th hole, Donald then closed out the match with a birdie putt from just inside nine feet.

“The short game has been good, and it has been tidy,” Donald said. “I haven’t given up too many holes this week. I made a bunch of birdies, too.” 

Mike McAllister

WGC Accenture - Quarterfinals Preview

The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship will have a decidedly new look as the quarterfinals begin early Saturday morning.

That's because Bubba Watson eliminated one of the tournament's most accomplished players in Geoff Ogilvy, who had a 20-3 record entering Friday's match. That's what two wins and a runner-up finish will do for your record.

Now that Ogilvy is gone, though, we're essentially in uncharted territory. Only one of the remaining eight players has ever played a quarterfinal match -- Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was beaten in that one way back in 2000.

The No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking is up for grabs if Martin Kaymer can get through to the finals. But thanks to a scheduling change due to oncoming weather conditions, two grueling rounds on Saturday await both potential finalists, who will have to battle the whims and the winds of Mother Nature in the afternoon.

Accenture Match Play: Preview of quarterfinal matches

9:10 a.m. RYAN MOORE vs. LUKE DONALD 

Accenture Match Play records: Moore is 3-1. Donald is 13-6.

Donald has been playing steady golf all week -- making 14 birdies and just a trio of bogeys, all three of which came in his second-round match with Edoardo Molinari. No player in the field has made fewer bogeys through the first three rounds. The Englishman has yet to play the 18th hole but Moore needed it -- and one more -- to dismiss Nick Watney as both players shot 7 under in a nail-biter on Friday. Donald has twice reached the third round, only to be eliminated so he joins the 2004 U.S. Amateur champ in making his first quarterfinal appearance.

9:22 a.m. MATT KUCHAR vs. Y.E. YANG 

Accenture Match Play records: Kuchar is 4-1. Yang is 4-2.

Each man knocked out glitzier opponents on Friday -- Kuchar downing the colorful Rickie Fowler and Yang ousting world No. 3 Graeme McDowell. That's how they like to do their jobs, though -- head down and moving forward. Yang made birdies in bunches against the Northern Irishman, including four straight to end the match, while Kuchar's putter was relatively quiet. Eliminating mistakes will be the key for both.

9:34 a.m. MARTIN KAYMER vs. MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ 

Accenture Match Play records: Kaymer is 5-3. Jimenez is 9-9.

The two Ryder Cup teammates appeared to save their best golf for the third round. Kaymer seven birdies and just one bogey while knocking off Hunter Mahan 2 and 1. Jimenez blitzed Ben Crane, closing out the match on the 12th hole. Kaymer has a carrot dangling -- he'll be No. 1 in the world if he reaches the title tilt but with that comes pressure, as well.

9:46 a.m. BUBBA WATSON vs. J.B. HOLMES

Accenture Match Play records: Watson is 3-0. Holmes is 3-1.

Fans of the long ball got their wish when these two won their third-round matches. Watson ranks first in driving distance with an average of 314.8, which is 4.3 yards longer than Holmes, who has already unleashed one of more than 370 in the thin air at Dove Mountain. "It should be fun," Holmes said. "We'll get out there and see who hits it the furthest." Holmes, ranked No. 66 in the world, was the last man in when Tim Clark withdrew on Tuesday. He didn't even get a practice round but he knows desert golf, with a pair of victories at TPC Scottsdale.

Yong-Eun Yang in Match Play Chase

Yong-Eun Yang

Korea’s Y.E. Yang took down world number four Graeme McDowell 3 & 2 in the third round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Friday.

The Asian Tour honorary member finished off the reigning U.S. Open champ in style, chipping in from the intermediate rough just off the green at the 16th hole for the winning birdie.

That was Yang's fourth consecutive birdie on the back nine in a round that included eight birdies, two bogeys and a double.

Yang has now beaten Alvaro Quiros, Stewart Cink and McDowell in making an impressive run to his first quarterfinals appearance in this event. Yang jumped out to an early lead, with three birdies in his first four holes.

The latter two put him 2 up, but he gave back a hole with a bogey at the fifth. McDowell, though, gave it right back with a bogey at the par-3 sixth when he found the greenside bunker.

He then failed to win the 8th hole when he missed a birdie putt inside four feet. Still, he clawed back, managing to square the match when Yang made a mess of things at the 10th. The match remained squared heading to the 14th, but that's when Yang pulled away with that birdie streak.

His approach shot at the 14th landed inside seven feet, and his approach on the 15th rolled to within four feet, setting the stage for Yang's dramatic finish. "He was a tough man to beat today and to be brutally honest, I was frustrated with my game all week," McDowell said. "I hit a lot of average shots for me."

Watson and Holmes Reach WGC Quarters

Bubba Watson at WGC-Accenture on Friday

J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson are in the quarterfinals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, and it's not hard to figure out how they got there.

Holmes has five of the longest drives this week at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, including a 400-yard shot in the opening round. He wasn't always straight, but he was long enough to keep himself in the game and win the last two holes against Jason Day on Friday.

Watson didn't win his match against Geoff Ogilvy on the par-5 11th hole, but it sure felt that way. Already 2 up in his match, Watson was 290 from the hole when he ripped a 3-iron with a tight draw that bounded onto the green and settled about 15 feet away.

"I knew if I hit a bullet 3-iron, it could roll up close," Watson said. "We were just thinking about getting it on the green. We were thinking about missing it left, so we'd have an easy chip up on the slope. I knew it was good. I saw where it was running and it worked out in my favor again. I swung as hard as I could at a low, bullet 3-iron."

Three holes later, the match was over, 6 and 4.

"It's never fun to lose," said Ogilvy, a two-time champion of this fickle event. "But it's the first time I've played OK and lost. He played well. He hit great shots. I didn't play that bad. I didn't play '6-and-4' bad."

That set up more fireworks for Saturday morning -- Holmes vs. Watson, two of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, head-to-head on a course nearly 7,800 yards long in the high desert with wind expected to top 20 mph.

"It should be fun," Holmes said. "Me and Bubba move it out there pretty good."

Their explosive play shifted the focus from youth to power in the third round, as the kids got sent home -- 17-year-old Matteo Manassero, 22-year-old Rickie Fowler and the 23-year-old Day all lost their matches.

The youngest player still around also is the best -- Martin Kaymer, the highest seed left at No. 2. The "Germanator" can move up to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking if he wins two matches on Saturday to reach the championship match.

"If I can get up one more spot in the world rankings, of course I wouldn't mind it," Kaymer said. "But I think I'll have a chance the next few weeks, months, as well."

Getting to Saturday wasn't easy, of course. Kaymer trailed by two holes until winning the 13th and 14th, then surged ahead on the par-3 16th when he hit a 3-iron into a stiff breeze to 12 feet for birdie.

Even so, it was the end that was painful to watch as it stirred Ryder Cup memories of Mahan.

Kaymer was 1 up and went long and left with his approach. Mahan did the same, and needed to at least escape with par to have any chance. Instead, he muffed yet another chip that barely got up the hill, well short of the green. He chipped long and made double bogey.

Mahan also flubbed a chip at the Ryder Cup on the 17th hole, although he was a long shot to win his match against Graeme McDowell. Still, it was an image that sticks among the key moments from Wales, and his finish against Kaymer won't help erase that memory.

Kaymer advances to play Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, at 47 the oldest player in the field, who gave Ben Crane another short day at the office. Crane, whose 8-and-7 win on Thursday was the second-largest margin in tournament history, didn't make a birdie until the 11th hole against Jimenez and lost, 7 and 6.

With cold weather due on the final day, the schedule was changed to avoid frost delays. The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning, followed by the semifinals. The 18-hole final match will be Sunday afternoon.

Watson's performance has been so dominant that he has led every hole he has played for three days. He has won the opening hole all three rounds and closed out matches on the 16th hole, 13th hole and 14th hole.

"Hit a lot of good putts, a lot of good iron shots. Haven't missed that many fairways, probably no more than five all three days," Watson said. "So it's been good so far. And I've won every time, so it works out."

No one feels more grateful than Holmes, who didn't even get into the 64-man field until Tuesday when Tim Clark withdrew. He took over the No. 22 seed in the bracket, but technically could be considered No. 65. The lowest seed to win was Kevin Sutherland at No. 62 in 2002.

Holmes only saw this course for the first time Wednesday when he beat Camilo Villegas. He is not driving it straight, but it is going long. That power figures to be on full display against Watson on Saturday.

And if this format were not already unpredictable, watch out for the wind.

"If that puts more people in the desert, that will give me an advantage," Holmes said. "I've been practicing out of there."

Ryan Moore Defeats Nick Watney at WGC

Ryan Moore

In the only match Friday that went required an extra hole, Moore advanced by rolling in a birdie putt just inside 11 feet on the 19th hole (the par-4 first). It was Moore's sixth birdie of the day. Add in one eagle and one bogey, and Moore ended up shooting 7 under on the day. "I played a little bit better today than I had the first couple of days," Moore said. "It was just a battle." Watney has been one of the hottest players on TOUR, and he came into Friday's match having knocked out the world's No. 1 player, Lee Westwood. 

When he won the first two holes with birdies, it looked to be more of the same. But Moore has avoided trouble for most of the week -- he has just five bogeys through the first three rounds -- and his steady play eventually proved the difference. "You knew it was going to be a tough match," Moore said. "Right out of the gate he starts making birdies." 

But Moore made his share, too. His birdie at the sixth from 24 feet away squared the match and he never trailed after that. A pivotal stretch started at the 15th when Moore drove the green at the short par 4 and nailed the eagle putt from just inside 39 feet to go 1 up. He then won the next hole after his tee shot on the par-3 16th landed inside five feet. But his lone bogey of the day gave Watney the 17th hole, and then Watney stuffed his approach inside five feet to win the 18th hole and even the match.

Next opponent for Moore: Luke Donald

WGC-Accenture Schedule Change

Based on the weather forecast for Saturday (winds 25-35 mph with higher gusts) and Sunday (cold temperatures and rain in the morning), the schedule for the final two days of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship has been revised to give the best opportunity for completing the tournament on time.

New schedule (all times local and approximate):

Saturday

Quarter-final matches beginning at 7:10 a.m.

Semi-final matches beginning at 11:45 a.m.

Sunday

Third/fourth place play-off beginning at 12 p.m.

Championship Match beginning at 12:15 p.m.

Miguel Angel Jimenez into Last Eight

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez reached the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship quarter-finals for the first time in his career in Tucson.

In a surprisingly one-sided affair the 47 year old Spaniard, who won 7 and 6 against Ben Crane a day after the American had beaten Rory McIlroy 8 and 7.

But Graeme McDowell has still to make the last eight in Arizona after losing to Korean Y E Yang.

Northern Ireland's US Open Champion had come from behind in his first two games and threatened to do the same when he took the ninth and tenth to level.

But Yang, the player who beat Tiger Woods head-to-head in the 2009 US PGA Championship, went away from him again and clinched a 3 and 2 victory with a chip-in birdie at the 16th.

Luke Donald's bid to keep the trophy in English hands, meanwhile, looked like staying alive as he led rising star Matteo Manassero by four with five to play.

The 17 year old Italian is the youngest player ever to compete in the event and was on a real high after knocking out Steve Stricker and Charl Schwartzel.

But the 2009 British Amateur Champion, already a European Tour winner in his nine month old professional career, found Donald a much tougher proposition.

Manassero could not match the 33 year old's birdies at the first and fourth, bogeyed the next and then saw his opponent fire in his approach to three feet at the seventh.

Ninth seed Donald did lose the long eighth, but his response was immediate, a 20 footer for another birdie at the next and then a par on the tenth taking him five up.

Manassero, however, chipped in for eagle at the 13th when the match was in danger of ending there.

But Martin Kaymer, who needs to reach Sunday's final to replace Lee Westwood at the top of the rankings, was two down after 12 to American Hunter Mahan.

Yang will play Matt Kuchar next and another home player through is left-hander Bubba Watson. Kuchar beat Rickie Fowler 2 and 1, while Watson thrashed twice winner Geoff Ogilvy 6 and 4.

Because of a bad weather forecast for Sunday morning - a chance of snow even - the schedule has been changed so that both the quarter-finals and semi-finals will now be played on Saturday.

The quarter-finals will start at 7.10am local time (1410 GMT) and the semis at 11.45am (1845 GMT).

The final, 18 holes for the first time this year, will then tee off at 12.15pm Sunday (1915 GMT).

WGC-Accenture Round 3 - Match Results

Y. E. Yang

BUBBA WATSON (5) def. GEOFF OGILVY (8), 6 and 4

In a surprising rout, Watson eliminated the two-time Accenture Match Play champion with a terrific display of golf, essentially shooting 9 under in 14 holes. "Went good out there today," Watson said. Indeed, he had five birdies, one eagle and one bogey on his scorecard but was also conceded another birdie and another eagle to beat the Australian, who played admirably himself in losing for just the fourth time in 24 career matches in this event. "He played very well," Ogilvy said. "It's hard to play a guy that plays that well." Watson, one of the longest drivers on TOUR, used that advantage in winning three of the four par-5 holes Friday. He birdied two of them (holes 2 and 8), eagled another (the 13th) and was conceded the 11th before he could attempt an eagle putt from inside 15 feet. But his iron play was just as impressive. Having won the first two holes, Ogilvy struck his approach shot at the par-4 third to inside 10 feet for birdie. He drained the putt, putting him 3 up and putting Ogilvy back on his heels. The Aussie answered with a birdie at the 5th, but he failed to win the 7th despite making a 22-foot birdie putt. That's because Watson struck his approach to five feet for an easy birdie to halve the hole. On the next hole, Watson hit a tremendous approach shot from the native area, finding the green for a two-putt birdie to again deny Ogilvy the hole. Watson's lone bogey of the day dropped his lead to 1 up at the turn, but on the 10th, he won the hole with a 12-1/2 foot birdie putt. Ogilvy then conceded the 11th to Watson, whose second shot on the par-5 hole landed inside 15 feet. Ogilvy, 4 down, then bogeyed the par-3 12th when he found the rough with his tee shot. At the 13th, Watson rolled in an eagle putt just inside 17 feet. Watson finished off the match with a flourish, hitting another great approach shot to within four feet at the 14th, with Ogilvy ultimately conceding the hole and the match.

Next opponent for Watson: J.B. Holmes winner

J.B. HOLMES (6) def. JASON DAY (10), 1 up

Holmes' Cinderella run continued as he claimed the decisive 18th hole to knock out the young Aussie, who had impressed in wins over Anthony Kim and Paul Casey in the first two days. Holmes, a late edition to the field as the fill-in for an injured Tim Clark, is through to the quarters in just his second appearance in this event. Day did not have to play the 17th and 18th holes in either of the first two rounds, but he had to do so Friday -- and he bogeyed each one to lose control of the match. Day was 1 up heading to 17, but he failed to reach the green in regulation and his third shot left him more than 42 feet from the pin as he failed to save par. Now all square going into 18, Day did the one thing he could not do -- find the back bunker at the 18th. That left him with no chance to get it close to the pin, and he ended up with another par putt of about 40 feet. Meanwhile, Holmes was in a similar position, although he was putting for birdie. When Holmes rolled his putt to within two feet, Day conceded. Holmes was not spectacular -- he was even par on the day -- but he was steadied himself after bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes. From there, he was a bogey-free 1 under on the last 12 holes. Day was a rollercoaster 1 over, with five birdies, four bogeys and one double.

Next opponent for Holmes: Bubba Watson

MATT KUCHAR (4) def. RICKIE FOWLER (8), 2 and 1

Kuchar never trailed in his match with Fowler, but that certainly doesn't mean it was easy. There were adventures in the desert, penalty shots and encounters with cacti and sagebrush to entertain the ample crowd. But in the end, the steady 1997 U.S. Amateur champ won out over Fowler, who was coming off a 6 and 5 win over Phil Mickelson in the second round. "I think I'm lucky I didn't run into him yesterday," Kuchar said. "It sounded like yesterday he was on fire and would have cleaned me out yesterday. Kuchar birdied the first two holes, one to keep pace and the second to win the hole, then went 2 up when Fowler bogeyed the third. But Fowler battled back to square the match with birdies at the sixth and eighth holes before the two visited the desert on opposite sides of the fairway at the 10th hole and Kuchar won with a bogey. "I was lucky to win that hole," Kuchar said. Fowler then bogeyed the next two holes to put Kuchar 3 up. "I'm disappointed about 11 and 12, missing some little up and downs and short putts that I thought definitely helped the match go the other way," Fowler said. The 22-year-old did manage to win two more holes -- the 15th with his third straight birdie and the 16th with a par. But the match ended when Kuchar staked his approach at the 17th hole to 5 feet and Fowler couldn't get up and down from behind the green.

Next opponent for Kuchar: Y.E. Yang

Y.E. YANG (11) def. GRAEME McDOWELL (2), 3 and 2

The Korean finished off the reigning U.S. Open champ in style, chipping in from the intermediate rough just off the green at the 16th hole for the winning birdie. That was Yang's fourth consecutive birdie on the back nine in a round that included eight birdies, two bogeys and a double. Yang has now beaten Alvaro Quiros, Stewart Cink and McDowell in making an impressive run to his first quarterfinals appearance in this event. Yang jumped out to an early lead, with three birdies in his first four holes. The latter two put him 2 up, but he gave back a hole with a bogey at the fifth. McDowell, though, gave it right back with a bogey at the par-3 sixth when he found the greenside bunker. He then failed to win the 8th hole when he missed a birdie putt inside four feet. Still, he clawed back, managing to square the match when Yang made a mess of things at the 10th. The match remained squared heading to the 14th, but that's when Yang pulled away with that birdie streak. His approach shot at the 14th landed inside seven feet, and his approach on the 15th rolled to within four feet, setting the stage for Yang's dramatic finish.

Next opponent for Yang: Matt Kuchar

MIGUEL A. JIMENEZ (6) def. BEN CRANE (10), 7 and 6

Now Crane knows how Rory McIlroy felt after the American blitzed him 8 and 7 in the second round. Jimenez was in control from the outset Friday as Crane made the first of his five bogeys on No. 1 and the Spaniard birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 4 to grab a 4 up advantage. Jimenez two-putted the second from 44 feet, made a 4-footer at No. 3 and drained a 14-footer for birdie at the fourth during that torrid stretch. Crane then gave Jimenez three straight holes with bogeys starting at the eighth hole and found himself 7 down at the 11th tee. All that remained was for the two men to halve the next two holes with birdies before Jimenez could put another match in the win column. The red-haired, pony-tailed Spaniard, who is called "The Mechanic," is the oldest player remaining in the field at 47. He's now in the quarterfinals for the second time in 10 appearances and his record has improved to 9-9 overall.

Next opponent for Jimenez: Martin Kaymer

MARTIN KAYMER (1) def. HUNTER MAHAN (5), 2 and 1

LUKE DONALD (3) def. MATTEO MANASSERO (15), 3 and 2

Donald led from the outset in his match with the Italian teen, who had already knocked out the steady world No. 8 Steve Stricker. Donald, who clocks in at No. 9, wasn't going to be another upset victim, though, and he set the tone for the day early. Three birdies and a par to Manassero's bogey had Donald leading 4 up by the seventh hole. Manassero won the eighth with a birdie but Donald came back with a 16-footer at the ninth to make the turn 4 up. Donald then gained a 5-up advantage, his largest of the day, after the 17-year-old bogeyed the 10th hole, leaving his third shot in the bunker. But Manassero refused to fold, holing an eagle chip from 44 yards at the par-5 13th and making birdie at No. 15 to narrow the gap to 3 down. But the match was dormie at that point, and only a Herculean effort could avoid the loss. Donald then proceeded to two-putt for par at No. 16 to seal the victory. You've got to expect to see the two on the same European Ryder Cup team down the road, though. And Manassero still has two years to become the youngest player ever to win a PGA TOUR event. "It was a good win," Donald said. "I knew he was going to be a tough competitor."

Next opponent for Donald: Ryan Moore

RYAN MOORE (12) def. NICK WATNEY (8), 19 holes

WGC-Accenture Round 3 - Updates

Nick Watney vs Ryan Moore 

Watney won the first two holes but Moore has clawed back with winning the third and sixth holes with birdies.

Matteo Manassero vs. Luke Donald 

Donald won the first, fourth and fifth holes and seventh holes (just two with birdies) and is 4 up through 7.

Rickie Fowler vs Matt Kuchar 

Kuchar took two early holes but Fowler got it back to all square before finding trouble in the desert and losing the 10th hole. Kuchar’s now 1 up

Graeme McDowell vs Y.E. Yang 

Yang won three of the first six holes, but McDowell is hanging tough. Yang is 1 up as they make the turn.

Martin Kaymer vs Hunter Mahan 

Mahan won the first two holes but Kaymer, the top-ranked player left in the field, has squared the match with birdies on the two par-3s on the front side.

Ben Crane vs Miguel Angel Jimenez 

Jimenez won the first four holes, three of them on birdies. Crane obviously has his work cut out for him.

Geoff Ogilvy vs Bubba Watson

Watson also got out to a quick start, winning the first three holes. But Ogilvy, the two-time Accenture Match Play champ, has gotten two of those holes back.

Jason Day vs J.B. Holmes 

The match is all squared after Day rallied to win the sixth and eighth holes