WGC-Accenture Match Play 2014 results and bracket: Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia advance

Wednesday at the Accenture Match Play is considered by many to be one of the better days all season on the PGA Tour. It’s sun-up to sun-down golf, with 32 one-on-one matches rolling off the first tee and ending in a flurry of upsets and extra hole playoffs. The seeds at this event usually have little weight -- these are the top 65 or so players in the world and there’s little difference between them. We repeatedly see No. 16 seeds knock off No. 1 seeds, so there’s far less predictability than even the madness we get in March.

But the 2014 first round was more predictable and chalky than any in the history of this event, with only eight upsets according to seeds. That’s three fewer than the previous low, and while there will be fewer matches to follow on Thursday, the favorites getting through set up 16 quality games in the second round.

Here’s a review of what happened, the biggest upsets, and the best 2nd round match in each of the four sub-brackets.

The Jones bracket features the No. 1 overall seed in Henrik Stenson, but it was really the weakest of the four quadrants and wide open. Stenson was nearly pushed to the limit by Kiradech Aphibarnrat, but he closed out the Thai sensation on the 17th green to survive and advance. Stenson was shaky during the Euro Tour’s Middle East stretch so it was not a given that we’d see the same dominant player that won both the PGA Tour and Euro Tour playoffs. After the round, he also added that the Dove Mountain course in Tucson does not and never has suited his eye. So despite his status as the overall No. 1, he shouldn’t be an overwhelming favorite to roll through this bracket but getting through the first round could kickstart a longer stay.

Biggest upset

I was disappointed to see Graham DeLaet bounced in the first round, as I picked the Canadian to go all the way to the final four. But I also said his first round match against Patrick Reed would be the most competitive of this section, so Reed’s comeback win isn’t a shock given that these two have been among the best players all season.

There were no real major upsets, save for No. 3 Steve Stricker going down quickly. Tossing aside the seeds though, it’s not really an upset. Stricker had barely played this year and was rusty coming into the week. Throw in the tumult of his brother’s liver transplant and his last-minute commitment, and big things weren’t expected from Stricker this week.

Best 2nd round match

Without a doubt, Jason Day vs. Billy Horschel is the best Thursday match in this bracket, and perhaps the entire second round of the tournament. Horschel is a really dangerous No. 10 seed and has the kind of temperament to thrive in match play, and annoy his opponents. I picked him to roll past Donaldson and he dominated the Welshman. Day has a sparkling record at this event and is just as tough in match play. These are two young guns who figure to be a factor at the majors this year.

Here’s where things stand in the Jones bracket after day 1:

The disproportionately loaded Hogan bracket went pretty much chalk, so round two should be pretty exciting to watch. Rory McIlroy was expected to blast a hobbled Boo Weekley and he dispatched the fan favorite with a 3 & 2 victory. At the bottom of the bracket, Sergio Garcia nearly gave it away to Marc Leishman and should have closed the Aussie out on the 18th green. After a 22-hole march, however, the No. 2 seeded Spaniard escaped to get Bill Haas on Thursday.

Biggest upset

Ian Poulter, as he always is at this event, was a trendy pick to get to the final four and also win it all. Poulter’s match play record is unassailable and his record at this event is big part of that, even if his Ryder Cup heroism is more well-known. Rickie Fowler had missed three straight cuts coming into this event and was working through a swing change with new coach Butch Harmon. This was the first match out today, going off No. 1 at dawn and Rickie pounced to pull off the upset and send the Englishman home. It will be strange not having Poulter around on the weekend, but maybe Rickie has found something?

Best 2nd round match

McIlroy will get a much tougher test against the up-and-coming Harris English. Weekley was not in form and still getting over injuries, but English is one of the hottest players in the world right now. He’s got five top 10s in nine events this year, and he’s been hyped as one of the great young American players. The results are now matching the hype and English could be on a run where he’s a No. 1 or No. 2 seed this time next year. It’s premature, but this could be a Ryder Cup preview and it’s a huge chance for English to make another early season statement.

Here’s where things stand in the chalky and wonderful Hogan bracket:

The Player bracket was the last to finish on Wednesday night as Ernie Els edged Stephen Gallacher in extra holes with the sun setting behind the Arizona mountains. Els will get No. 1 seed Justin Rose on Thursday. Rose had to go to the 18th hole to beat Scott Piercy, who had a history knocking off No. 1 seeds.

The best match of this bracket featured Jason Dufner’s dramatic comeback on Scott Stallings, the recent winner of the Farmers Insurance Open. I wrote earlier this week that this would be the best 1st round matchup in this bracket, and Stallings put it to Dufner right away to take a 3-up lead with just five holes to play. The reigning PGA Champion turned it around quickly, however, and walked off with a win on the first extra hole to survive.

Biggest upset

There were no major shocks in this bracket on Wednesday, but the ease with which Matteo Manassero dispatched former WGC-Match Play champion Luke Donald was a bit unsettling. Donald is just a few years removed from being No. 1 in the world, but it’s hard to predict where he’s going right now. Manassero hasn’t exactly been hot, but he cruised to a 5&4 win.

Best 2nd round match

There’s no clear-cut nominee like the previous two brackets, but the Moore vs. Kuchar second round meeting should be competitive deep into the round. Moore has a history of success in match play format, winning multiple amateur titles. He’s also known for his streaky play, rolling in birdies in bunches, which is necessary in match play. He already has a win this season and played in the final Sunday pairing the last time he was in Arizona, so it won’t be a walk for the defending champ Kuchar.

Here’s where things stand in the Player bracket after day 1:

This bracket was dominated by a young set of American players, but that talent, all Ryder Cup vets, was wiped out on the bottom half. Peter Hanson, a Euro Ryder Cupper, handled Dustin Johnson, the bomb-and-gouger coming off two straight second-place finishes who was expected to overwhelm this course. Kevin Streelman and Keegan Bradley were two other Americans on the bottom half who got beat by European counterparts, and Bubba Watson needed an opponent’s gag to flip his match in the final four holes. It was nearly a clean sweep of Dustin, Bubba, Keegan, and Streelman, but at least we get one more day of BubbaGolf.

Biggest upset

It has to be the underwhelming performance of DJ, who should have eaten this course up with his length advantage off the tee. We’re used to seeing Dustin come-and-go, mentally check out or freeze up and make some poor plays. And he wasted a lot of those length advantages with sloppy short game play that opened the door for Hanson, a world class player who ended it on the 15th green. This tournament can be a crapshoot where seeds don’t really matter, but we should expect more from Dustin Johnson at this point.

Best 2nd round match

I think you have to go with the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup here. Can the young Matsuyama continue his ascent by beating the name Euro star McDowell? They’re both heavyweights at this point, even if they’re in different spots in their careers. But Matsuyama could be at the start of a multi-major winning career, and some WGC success can add to the natural progression. He’s an exciting prospect worth watching.

And finally, your Snead bracket heading into Thursday’s second round: