The fourth day of the T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek is about to get underway, thus starting a potentially 72-hole race to the finish. Who will win the first of these matchups? Our picks here:
STEPHANIE KYRIACOU vs A LIM KIM
I like A Lim Kim here. Her ball striking is elite and her game has been riding high all season. While Kyriacou came out of one of the toughest groups, Kim dominated hers going 3-0 and only reaching 18 in her first match.
SEI YOUNG KIM vs LAUREN COUGHLIN
Very easily the best matchup on paper. I had both of these players pegged pre-tournament as favorites to win. Both these players profile really well for match play and Kim has shown that all week, going 3-0-0 and winning by big margins against a group that included Ruoning Yin. Still, my gut feeling is Coughlin gets a big win here.
BROOKE HENDERSON vs MAJA STARK
Henderson might be the player who has been the most impressive this week. We haven’t seen her play much in this format in her career, but she has been terrific this week, going 3-0-0 against the toughest group on paper. She was dominant too, which keeps her fresh having not played more than 15 holes yet. While Stark has also been in excellent form, going 3-0-0 against a solid group, I think Henderson gets it done again.
ARIYA JUTANUGARN vs NARIN AN
Jutanugarn closed out the group that featured world No. 1 Nelly Korda, making her one of the real Cinderella stories of this week so far. While she is traditionally a good match play opponent, and has had success on this course, I think her run ends here. Narin An has played so well on Shadow Creek the past two seasons and will be a really tough out. I’m taking An here.
CELINE BOUTIER vs ASHLEIGH BUHAI
Ashleigh Buhai got out of the group featuring my winner pick, Charley Hull, which is a huge accomplishment. Playing strong match play opponents doesn’t end there though as now she takes on Celine Boutier. I like Boutier’s experience and putting to carry her through to the top eight.
CARLOTA CIGANDA vs MADELENE SAGSTRÖM
It has always perplexed me why Sagström doesn’t perform well in the Solheim Cup, as match play should be the ideal format for her game. This week’s success makes a lot of sense as she got out of a group with two major champions. She hits the buzzsaw now though. Ciganda got out of her group with only two points, but is a fantastic 1-on-1 match play performer, being 4-2-1 in her Solheim Cup singles career with wins over some of the best American players. Don’t be shocked if this doesn’t reach 16.
MAO SAIGO vs ANGEL YIN
Angel Yin has a deadly combination of skills for any format, but maybe match play in particular. She’s a good ball striker who plays aggressive and putt lights out. Because of that putting skill, it is tough to knock her out and she can steal some real momentum. I have Yin taking care of business in this round.
JEENO THITIKUL vs NATALIYA GUSEVA
This match feels like a real chance to be Guseva’s breakout moment on tour. While she has shown a lot of potential with six top-10 finishes in 2024, her season has started a bit slow. If she could get a win over the No. 2 player in the world to clinch her first top 10 of the season, it would be a huge moment. I just can’t pick against Thitikul though, who went 5-0-0 in the 2023 International Crown and is the best player still alive in this event.
