More Upsets and Mind Games at Accenture as Mickelson, Westwood and Els Depart

It’s time for the new kids to play.  Rickie Fowler stole the show at the Accenture Match play taking out Phil Mickelson while Nick Watney toppled the world's No.1 golfer, Lee Westwood.

Of the top ranked players only Martin Kaymer remains and he was extended to 20 holes in a playoff against Justin Rose. 

“I just remind myself of Whistling Straits,” Kaymer said. “I had the same club on 18 that I had at Whistling Straits with a 7-iron. When I was standing over the ball, I thought just do the same you did a few months ago and you would be fine."

Fowler commented about his victory over Mickelson saying, “Phil left a couple of doors open that I took advantage of. My momentum kind of went my way from there. It was huge for me going out and getting the job done today. But I look forward to every chance that I get to play with him or against him.”

Watney was very humble (typical for him) after beating Westwood. “I got a couple up, but, you know, he's not the World's No. 1 player for nothing. I knew he would come back and just definitely pleased to come out on top.”

Who are the rest of the upstarts sending the higher seeded players packing? JB Holmes, who had not seen the golf course before Wednesday, dispatched Ernie Els. He hit one drive 400 yards.

“Obviously Ernie is a great player. He had a great year last year, and he's done very well in match play in the past,” Holmes said. “You know the guy is going to be tough to beat. You know he's going to play well. You've just got to get out and do the best you can, try not to get too far behind, because a guy like that really knows how to close it off. So just stay close all day and make the best of your opportunities.”

He admitted trying to intimidate Els with his length. “I've been hitting my driver great this week. I was 40, 50 yards past Ernie a few times today. And it's always -- I would assume it's intimidating to see that.”

Matteo Manassero surprised everyone by advancing over Charl Schwartzel, and he shows no signs of nerves. At least not yet.

“My expectations were none, actually,.” Manassero said. “I was trying to play good golf, maybe get some lucky breaks and get through a few rounds and try to get in Top 50, which gets me into Doral. So that's what I'm aiming at, and -- but my expectations weren't high because I didn't want to put my expectations especially into match play, where everything can happen.”

Jason Day, who won his first PGA Tour event at the HP Byron Nelson in 2010, took care of Paul Casey and admitted to mind games, particularly making Casey hole an 18” putt at the 13^th.  Casey gave Day an icy stare.

“He looked really angry at me, too,” Day said after winning the match. “I knew he was going to hole it. But it's not about that hole, it's about the future holes coming on. So if I can make him a little angry, if I can, you know, get him out of his game plan and force him to make silly decisions out there, you know, that's obviously part of the mind games that you play.  Obviously match play is a different format to stroke play. At the end of the day, you're all mates and stuff. But when you're playing against the guy across from you, you want to try to beat him as quick as possible.”

Bubba Watson has recovered from his muscle pull and defeated two-time 2011 winner Mark Wilson.

“ I played really solid,” Watson explained. “No bogeys, no bad swings. You know, and I didn't make any mistakes. And he didn't really make the putts that he needed to make.”

Ben Crane, who until he posted crazy videos on youtube.com was best known for his slow play, defeated rising star Rory McIlroy.

“I've done it to people before where I've been five or six under after a few holes. And this is one of the first times it's happened to me, but it's the nature of match play,” McIlroy said.

Crane gave a new glimpse of himself with self deprecating analysis.  

“I think I'm just under the radar, period,” he said about his play. “Underrated as a match play player? I've never really advanced, I think, past the Sweet 16. So I don't think that anyone is going, wow, Ben Crane is really coming through this bracket look out. Gosh, sorry you've got to play Ben Crane, boy, tough draw there.”  He drew laughs.

Friday is the best day of the Accenture Match Play.  There are enough matches to last all day, and not so many that you can’t keep track of them.  Day one is too many and day two is nearly too many.  But day three is just right.

With all the seeds but Kaymer gone, who will rise next?

The record was eight of sixteen for Thursday’s play, so let’s see if we can get better than 50% on Friday.

*Moore over Watney: it takes a lot out of a guy to beat the No 1 player.

*Manassero over Luke Donald: Manassero wants to get into the Doral event.

*Fowler over Matt Kuchar: the kid’s on fire. Even a superhero could not have stopped him on Thursday, so can Friday be any less exciting?

*Graeme McDowell over Y.E. Yang:McDowell shows no signs of folding yet.

*Kaymer over Hunter Mahan:it might go extra holes.

*Crane over Miguel Angel Jimenez: anybody who beats McIlroy 8 and 7, you have to take your hat off to that.

*Geoff Ogilvy over Watson: Bubba loves playing golf, but Geoff Ogilvy loves this event.

*JB Holmes over Jason Day: none of Day’s mind games are going to work on a guy who can hit a golf ball 400 yards.