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GolfTalkCentral

Day 3 predictions Hogan and Jones brackets

By Randall Mell
Feb 23, 2012 8:02 PM ET

MARANA, Ariz. – Eight matches will comprise the third round of the 2012 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. GolfChannel.com senior writers Randall Mell and Rex Hoggard are on site and offer up predictions on Day 3. Mell takes on the Jones and Hogan brackets. (Click for Hoggard's Snead and Player brackets.)

BOBBY JONES BRACKET

No. 9 Peter Hanson vs. No. 5 Brandt Snedeker

Winner: Snedeker

The lowdown: Snedeker, winner of the Farmers Insurance Open last month, dispatched two strong match-play foes in Retief Goosen and Kyle Stanley. Snedeker’s track record coming from behind in his PGA Tour wins shows a dogged determination that serves him well in match play.

No. 10 Mark Wilson vs. No. 3 Dustin Johnson

Winner: Wilson

The lowdown: Wilson outlasted Johnson in this event a year ago, and he has his game in a good place to do it again. Wilson rarely beats himself.

BEN HOGAN BRACKET

No. 1 Martin Kaymer vs. No. 4 Matt Kuchar

Winner: Kaymer

The lowdown: Tough, tough match to call. Kaymer has been a buzz saw in this format the last two years, but Kuchar, the former U.S. Amateur champ, is a terrific match-play competitor who, like Kaymer, made it all the way to the semifinals in this event last year.

No. 2 Steve Stricker vs. No. 6 Hunter Mahan

Winner: Stricker

The lowdown: Mahan’s ball striking has been impressive this week, but the short game becomes more vital as this week wears on, and Stricker has a superior short game.

Watch live coverage of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Golf Channel, Friday 2-6PM ET; Saturday noon-2PM ET; Sunday 8AM-1PM ET. NBC coverage can be seen live Saturday/Sunday, 2-6PM ET.