MIAMI – Semifinal matches are set for Saturday’s Team Championship competition. LIV Golf’s editorial team – editorial director Mike McAllister and team correspondents Joy Chakravarty, Mark Lamport-Stokes, and Bryan Mullen – offer their predictions for each match.
4Aces vs. HyFlyers
McAllister’s picks: 4Aces 3-0. Johnson def. Mickelson; Reed def. Tringale; Uihlein/Perez def. Steele/Piot. The 4Aces team has an abundance of skill, and while the matches may be close, they have the edge.
Chakravarty’s pick: 4Aces 2-1. Johnson def. Mickelson; Tringale def. Reed; Uihlein/Perez def. Steele/Piot. Mickelson has the potential for a turnaround, but he is up against the formidable Johnson, who has been in great form.
Lamport-Stokes’ pick: 4Aces 3-0. Johnson def. Mickelson; Reed def. Tringale; Uihlein/Perez def. Steele/Piot. The 4Aces team has too much strength and depth for the HyFlyers to handle.
Mullen’s pick: 4Aces 3-0. Johnson def. Mickelson; Reed def. Tringale; Uihlein/Perez def. Steele/Piot. The 4Aces team had a comeback but fell short against the best team.
Crushers vs. Cleeks
McAllister’s pick: Crushers 2-1. DeChambeau def. Kaymer; Bland def. Casey; Lahiri/Howell def. McDowell/Wiesberger. The Crushers team is in better form than last year, and although the Cleeks are putting up a good fight, the Crushers have the advantage.
Chakravarty’s pick: Crushers 3-0. DeChambeau def. Kaymer; Casey def. Bland; Lahiri/Howell def. McDowell/Wiesberger. DeChambeau’s current form suggests Kaymer will struggle. Casey and Bland will have a close match, but it will go down to the wire.
Lamport-Stokes’ pick: Cleeks 2-1. DeChambeau def. Kaymer; Bland def. Casey; McDowell/Wiesberger def. Lahiri. The Cleeks continue their strong late-season surge and capitalize on their match play prowess.
Mullen’s pick: Crushers win 2-1. DeChambeau def. Kaymer; Casey def. Bland; McDowell/Wiesberger def. Lahiri/Howell. The Crushers are well-rested and will start strong.
Torque vs. Stingers
McAllister’s pick: Stingers 2-1. Oosthuizen def. Niemann; Munoz def. Grace; Burmester/Schwartzel def. Pereira/Puig. This match could be the closest of the day. Torque has incredible firepower but has been inconsistent. The Stingers’ experience gives them the edge.
Chakravarty’s pick: Torque 2-1. Niemann def. Oosthuizen; Grace def. Munoz; Pereira/Puig def. Burmester/Schwartzel. Torque, the most successful team this season, should be able to secure the win with their experience against the youthful Stingers.
Lamport-Stokes’ pick: Stingers 2-1. Oosthuizen def. Niemann; Munoz def. Grace; Burmester/Schwartzel def. Pereira/Puig. The Stingers take advantage of their Doral experience and current form to upset the third seeds.
Mullen’s pick: Torque wins: 3-0. Niemann def. Oosthuizen; Munoz def. Grace; Pereira/Puig def. Burmester/Schwartzel. Niemann’s laser-focus will inspire his teammates to victory.
RangeGoats vs. Fireballs
McAllister’s pick: RangeGoats 2-1. Garcia def. Watson; Gooch def. Chacarra; Pieters/Varner def. Ancer/Ortiz. If Bubba was in better form, the RangeGoats would be the pick. Expect Garcia to bounce back from his quarterfinal loss.
Chakravarty’s pick: Fireballs 2-1. Sergio def. Watson; Gooch def. Chacarra; Ancer/Ortiz def. Varner/Pieters. If Garcia’s thumb holds up, he should have no trouble against Watson. Chacarra has been in great form, but Gooch is currently playing at his best.
Lamport-Stokes’ pick: RangeGoats 3-0. Watson def. Garcia; Gooch def. Chacarra; Varner/Pieters def. Ancer/Ortiz. The RangeGoats have too much firepower for the Fireballs.
Mullen’s pick: RangeGoats win 3-0. Watson def. Sergio; Gooch def. Chacarra; Varner/Pieters def. Ancer/Ortiz. Watson’s determination will drive the RangeGoats to a victory.
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