The final day of the T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek is finally here, thus ending the longest week of the LPGA season. The field has been cut to four now, Ariya Jutanugarn, Lauren Coughlin, Angel Yin and Madelene Sagström.
Here are our predictions for the semifinal round:
LAUREN COUGHLIN vs ARIYA JUTANUGARN
This is a real tough one, as neither of these players have been particularly flashy in their performances this week, but have shown what we have always known about each of them, they are all time grinders. Jutanugarn squeezed through the group that featured world No. 1 Nelly Korda, then won a tight match against Narin An before a steady victory over Maja Stark. Coughlin has had each of her two matches outside of group play go through 17. Both of these players are difficult outs who find the most success with their ball striking. I lean Lauren Coughlin here in a match I think will go at least 18.
ANGEL YIN vs CELINE BOUTIER
On paper, Angel Yin’s win over Jeeno Thitikul might be considered the upset of the week, but Yin is really a phenomenal match play competitor as she continues to prove. Yin is 2-0-1 in her Solheim Cup singles career and is showing that type of skill here, combining long and aggressive play with some of the best putting on tour. She faces Madelene Sagström, who just outlasted Celine Boutier for her second 19-hole victory in a row. Sagström has beaten two players generally considered to be strong in match play in Boutier and Ciganda, but I think Angel Yin squeaks through here in a tight match to set up an all American final.
The end of these matches should reach the streaming coverage on NBC Sports at 1:30 ET.
