Austraila’s Geoff Ogilvy moved to fourth on the Official World Ranking after defeating Paul Casey 4 and 3 in the final of the WGC – Accenture Matchplay at Dove Mountain, Arizona.
It’s the second time in the last four years that Ogilvy has won the Accenture Match Play and it’s his third WGC title. Clearly a matchplay specialist, Ogilvy has now won 17 of the 19 matches he’s played in the Accenture. Picking up a cheque for €1,100,200 he’s leapt to the top of both the European Tour Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour money list.
Both Ogilvy and Casey played some fabulous golf to reach Sunday’s 36-hole final. The Australian knocked out form player Camilo Villegas before scraping past 19-year-old Rory McIlroy in the quarter-final. “Rory is going to be one of the best players in the world for a very long time and everyone needs to remember his name. He's incredible for 19." Said Ogilvy.
The 31-year-old then took out last year’s beaten finalist Stewart Cink in the semi-final.
Casey came through an all-English semi-final against Ross Fisher to set up the clash with Ogilvy. Both residents of Arizona, Casey had played a practice round with the Australian over the Ritz-Carlton course two weeks prior to the Match Play.
In the final it was putting that proved the key difference between the players. On the first hole, Casey missed a short birdie effort after Ogilvy had holed from further out – that set the tone for the day.
The Australian played extremely solid golf through the first round to go into lunch with a four hole advantage. Despite Casey’s best efforts in round two, Ogilvy could not be shaken and he went on to close out the match on the 15th.
Ogilvy didn’t make a bogey in his last 57-holes at Dove Mountain. "The whole weekend I played fantastic.” He said. “It's a very satisfying week to play well, I'm really happy with this.”
Although disappointed, Casey recognised the quality of his opponent. “I threw a lot at him but he didn't flinch. It was very impressive.” He said. “I didn't have enough, simple as that. I have no excuses, he just played excellent golf all day.”
The Englishman will console himself with the fact he’s climbed to 13th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Stewart Cink won the consolation match and claimed third place from Ross Fisher by a single hole. The American holed a bunker shot on the 18th for a birdie three and the narrowest of victories.
WGC – Accenture Match Play Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain, Arizona Feb 25 – Mar 1, purse €6,685,582, par 72
1 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) €1,101,204 2 Paul Casey (Eng) €668,588 3 Stewart Cink (USA) €471,945 4 Ross Fisher (Eng) €385,422 T5 Ernie Els (RSA) €212,376 T5 Justin Leonard (USA) €212,376 T5 Rory McIlroy (NIR) €212,376 T5 Sean O’Hair (USA) €212,376
Note: Players in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only
