Swede Stenson clinches Match Play title

MARANA, Arizona, Feb 26 (Reuters) Swede Henrik Stenson became the second European to win the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, beating defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia 2&1 in Sunday's final.

Two up after a fluctuating morning round in bright sunshine, Stenson trailed by one midway through the afternoon before clinching his maiden PGA Tour victory with a birdie on the par-five 35th hole.

The Swede, who won this month's Dubai Desert Classic in his previous start, emulated the achievement of Britain's Darren Clarke, who triumphed in 2000 at La Costa.

US Open champion Ogilvy, who beat American Davis Love III 3&2 in last year's final at La Costa, was two up with 10 holes to play at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club before losing momentum over the closing stretch.

''I just tried to stay focused on my game,'' a beaming Stenson told reporters after clinching his sixth European Tour title yesterday.

''Luckily enough, I was able to finish off with two birdies to close out the match.'' The 30-year-old Swede will climb to a career-high fifth when the world rankings are issued today.

''I didn't putt great this morning and this afternoon I lost my golf swing again,'' Ogilvy said at the end of his run of 11 consecutive match wins at the event. ''It's disappointing but that's the way it goes.'' Stenson held the upper hand after leading Ogilvy two up after the morning but the Australian hit back immediately in the afternoon.

He clawed one back by holing a six-footer to birdie the 19th and won the 20th after his opponent slid a four-foot par putt past the right edge of the cup.

AUSTRALIAN RALLIED Although Stenson regained a one-hole cushion when Ogilvy bogeyed the 21st after missing the green off the tee and failing to hold the putting surface with a delicate chip, the Australian again rallied.

He won three of the next four holes, taking the 23rd with a par, driving the green at the 25th to set up a two-putt birdie and going two up after Stenson lipped out with a four-foot par putt at the 26th.

Once again, though, the momentum shifted.

Ogilvy missed a four-footer to bogey the 27th, lost the 29th after overhitting the green with his approach and trailed by one after Stenson got up and down from the left greenside bunker to birdie the par-four 30th.

Ogilvy did well to halve the next two holes, sinking par putts from 11 and 17 feet, before Stenson effectively sealed victory at the par-three 34th.

The Swede hit a superb tee shot to within two feet of the flag, the tap-in birdie putt being conceded by his opponent.

Ogilvy, whose iron off the tee finished just six feet from the cup, narrowly missed his birdie attempt to the left and trudged off to the 35th hole two down.

The morning round featured wild fluctuations in fortunes, some superb shot-making and several missed short putts.

Stenson raced two ahead after two holes before Ogilvy hit back, levelling the match with a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-four fourth and going two up after hitting a wedge to seven feet at the sixth.

Overall, the lead changed five times in the final before Stenson clinched the biggest victory of his career.

In the consolation match played over one round, South Africa's Trevor Immelman beat American Chad Campbell 4&2 to secure third place.

REUTERS SBA RN0459