Shaping Up to be a Doozy at the World Golf Match Play

This is shaping up to be one doozy of a World Golf Match Play Championship. DJ is playing like a man possessed. Spain's Jon Rahm is demonstrating that he is definitely going to be a world-beater, barring anything unforeseen occurring. Sweet-swinging Billy Haas has found something thanks to a visit from his father, Jay, and seems to have luck on his side this week. And Japan's Hideto Tanihara, pretty much unknown outside of Asia, has managed to hang in there and find himself facing DJ in the semis.

Smart money would probably suggest that DJ and Rahm will continue to dispatch their opponents before they reach 18, and we will be watching a real heavy-weight final. But it's hard to imagine that Bill Haas will be as easy to deal with for Rahm. He's found something this week, and he has proven his mettle in match play on a big stage in the last Presidents Cup, securing the winning point in the final match. 

And this Tanihara is such an unknown quantity. He's a multiple winner in Japan and is the tour's best putter. You can never under-estimate the power of the putter. It would be a shock to see him be able to keep pace with DJ, but in eighteen holes of match play anything can happen. 

It's hard to imagine anyone beating DJ this week. He had a little stumble around the turn yesterday afternoon against Noren, looking almost human for a moment. But he was stirred--not shaken, and just dropped the hammer on the Swede. 

But you just never know in this game. There's a bit of luck involved in this game as well. So, don't be too surprised if you see Bill Haas lifting the trophy. He's been lucky as hell this week.