It is that time of year again. With the first round of the Accenture World Match Play set to tee off, the old rule still applies – only a fool would try to predict the outcome of 32 matches involving 64 of the world's best golfers. So here goes.
Luke Donald, England v Ernie Els, South Africa
Don't mistake a soft home counties accent for modesty or a disinclination for sporting combat. Donald is a certified terrier in matchplay golf. Els is a shadow of the player he used to be. Donald wins.
Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland v George Coetzee, South Africa
The steady rise of South Africa's new generation of golfers is one of the great under-reported trends in modern golf. Coetzee is one of the lesser known of the clan but a fine player nonetheless. However, he's not fine enough to beat the sport's next dominant player. McIlroy wins.
Lee Westwood, England v Nicolas Colsaerts, Belgium
There are always upsets in the first round of this event. The trick is how to spot them. Colsaerts hits the ball miles, is in form and, as he showed in the Volvo World Match Play in Spain last year, he is good in this format. He has a better chance against Westwood than you might think. The Belgian wins.
Martin Kaymer, Germany v Greg Chalmers, Australia
The German, who was world No1 at the time, made the final here last year, ultimately going down to Luke Donald when many thought him far too good for the Englishman. Kaymer's game and ranking have shaded slightly in 12 months but he's still far too good for the likes of Greg Chalmers.
Steve Stricker, United States v Kevin Na, United States
Most people will look at the rankings and the respective records of the two players and pick Stricker. But like many of these first-round contests, it's not quite as straightforward as that. Stricker hasn't played for five weeks, and Na is one of those pernickety characters who can get under the skin. It'll be close but Stricker wins.
Webb Simpson, United States v Matteo Manassero, Italy
Another "toss-up" in a first round that has more than its usual share of potentially close contests. Simpson played brilliantly last year and has started well this year. He should win. But Manassero has shown an appetite for the matchplay format in his short career and he putts well. Simpson wins. Just.
Jason Day, Australia v Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Spain
Cabrera-Bello won recently in the desert, holding off a strong field in Dubai, and won last year on the European Tour. In short, he has a pedigree. However, he has not played much in the US and may require a period of adjustment. Jason Day, on the other hand, is undeniably one of the best players in the world. Day wins.
Adam Scott, Australia v Robert Rock, England
"Rocky" proved he can withstand pressure in holding off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy over the final 18 holes in Abu Dhabi. But Arizona is a long way from home, and jet lag might be a problem. Scott wins.
Dustin Johnson, United States v Jim Furyk, United States
New generation American against old generation. Johnson seems like an obvious winner, being both a bigger hitter and an intimidating presence. Yet there remains a doubt in some minds about his temperament. However, there is no doubt about Furyk's doggedness. Furyk wins.
Charl Schwartzel, South Africa v Gary Woodland, United States
One of the easier matches to predict. Schwartzel is a Masters champion, a terrific player. Woodland has just split with his long-time swing coach. A South African win.
Bill Haas, United States v Ryo Ishikawa, Japan
Never expect too much from a player who has just won. Haas prevailed in a play-off in Los Angeles on Sunday, while Ishikawa was well down the field. But in matchplay great putting often counts for more than great from. Ishikawa – just.
Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland v YE Yang, South Korea
This may well be a case of "count the spectator" but the lack of local interest in this contest might be in inverse proportion to the intensity of the competition itself. It would be fair to say that McDowell and Yang are two terriers. A toss of the coin. Yang wins. Possibly.
Matt Kuchar, United States v Jonathan Byrd, United States
There won't be many fist-pumps on show in this one. Two of the least demonstrative figures in American golf go head to head. Byrd is underrated, and Kuchar is overrated (at least if the world rankings are anything to go by). Of the two, Byrd has been showing better early-season form. He wins.
Nick Watney, United States v Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland
Common sense suggests this should be an easy win for the younger American but you never know where Clarke is concerned. He's endured a torrid time with his form over the last few months but this might be the week it clicks. Then again it might not be. Watney wins.
Sergio García, Spain v Miguel Angel Jiménez, Spain
The tortoise and the hare of Spanish golf. García is younger and flashier and is undoubtedly more talented, but there is a doggedness about Jiménez that serves him well in this format. Still, his younger compatriot should just about have enough to see him off. García wins.
KJ Choi, South Korea v Kyle Stanley, United States
Choi has a good record in this event, without ever fulfilling the expectations of those who have believed in the past that he is a potential winner. Stanley, meanwhile, has won on the PGA Tour already this year and is in terrific form. It's just a hunch, but Choi's persistence sees him through.
Brandt Snedeker, United States v Retief Goosen, South Africa
Snedeker is another winner on the PGA Tour this year. He is a fine all-round player and an especially good putter. Goosen's career is on the slide. An easy win for the American.
Keegan Bradley, United States v Geoff Ogilvy, Australia
The aficionados would argue this is one of the more intriguing matches of the first round. Bradley is in form – having almost won in LA at the weekend – but Ogilvy is a past winner of this event and excels in this format. Advance Australia fair.
Tiger Woods, United States v Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Spain
For all that Woods has had troubles and for all that the Spaniard is mining a rich seam of form, this appears one of the easier matches to predict. Woods has the class and the aura to win easily.
Bubba Watson, United States v Ben Crane, United States
Crane is famous for playing painful slowly and Watson is famous for being temperamental. It so happens that both excel in different aspects of the game – Crane putts superbly, Watson is the bomber supreme. A close one but Watson likes this course a lot, which should give him the edge.
Hunter Mahan, United States v Zach Johnson, United States
It is not quite true that men have gone broke underestimating Johnson but he is more than capable of beating anyone in a head-to-head contest, the nature of which appeals to him greatly. Mahan should win on raw talent, but he won't. Johnson to progress.
Justin Rose, England v Paul Lawrie, Scotland
Who has not been captivated by the Scotman's unexpected return to the world's elite? Lawrie is playing wonderfully well just now, but Rose also looked good last week in his first tournament of the year. The proverbial toss-up. But Lawrie wins on the 12th extra hole.
Ian Poulter, England v Bae Sang-moon, South Korea
In the places where golf people gather there is a sense that the Korean could turn out to be a very special player indeed, and that he may have the beating of Poulter. Don't believe the second part of that sentence. To misquote Vince Vaughn in Swingers, the Englishman is money in matchplay golf. Poulter wins.
Thomas Bjorn, Denmark v Francesco Molinari, Italy
Molinari is a very tidy player but tidy might not be enough on a golf course where straight driving and accurate iron play are not at a premium, especially against a player like Bjorn. The Dane, like Paul Lawrie, is enjoying a second life at this level and – a hunch – he might go all the way to the final.
Bo Van Pelt, United States v Mark Wilson, United States
This match is likely to set an all-time record for smallest gallery in this tournament, which is really saying something given the sparse attendances through the years. As for a winner – it is hard to care but, since you insist, Van Pelt.
Simon Dyson, England v John Senden, Australia
Senden is steady without ever being eye-catching. Dyson is a good player who gets better with every passing year. If the Englishman can control his temperament he should go through.
Alvaro Quirós, Spain v Martin Laird, Scotland
Two big hitters, neither of whom has been in particularly good form over the first few weeks of the year. Yet Quirós looked to be hitting fairly well on the practice range and has a decent matchplay record. A Spanish win.
Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa v Aaron Baddeley, Australia
The South African is as talented as he is apparently diffident – a pity because he could win an event like this were he to truly engage with the task at hand. Baddeley, on the other hand, makes the most of what he has – principally a terrific putting stroke. Australia wins.
David Toms, United States v Rickie Fowler, United States
The hyping of Rickie Fowler is one of the more curious, and potentially damaging, aspects of the American golf scene. There is a lot of pressure on this likable young man, and he doesn't appear to be handling it too well. Toms has been there and done that, and will do it again in this first-round tie.
Robert Karlsson, Sweden v Fredrik Jacobson, Sweden
One for the Swedish aficionados. Karlsson wins.
KT Kim, South Korea v Anders Hansen, Denmark
Kim starred for Greg Norman's International team at last year's President's Cup, much to the surprise of most people but not his Asian team-mates who were aware of his appetite for matchplay golf. Hansen is no mug in this format either, but Kim progresses.
Jason Dufner, United States v Peter Hanson, Sweden
It is hard to believe Dufner almost won last year's PGA Championship, and it is hard to believe he is anything other than a decent PGA Tour journeyman. Hanson, on the hand, is just one notch below being a truly top-class player and he should certainly have enough to win this match.
