MARANA, Ariz. — Tiger Woods holed another crucial putt on the 17th hole today, this one sending him into the 36-hole final of the Accenture Match Play Championship for the fourth time in nine tries.

Woods never trailed in a tight match with defending champion Henrik Stenson, who tied him with a 15-foot birdie on the 16th. But the 17th hole has been somewhat of a charm for the world's No. 1 player, who might not be around if not for a 35-foot eagle putt he made in the first round, or Aaron Baddeley's eagle putt that just missed to the right on Friday.

After hitting a tough bunker shot to 12 feet, Woods holed the birdie putt for a 1-up lead, and wound up with a 2-up victory when Stenson took four shots to reach the final green.

Woods will face Stewart Cink, who this time has a fighting chance.

Cink, who was 7 under on his first nine holes in beating Justin Leonard, last played in the final group with Woods last month at the Buick Invitational. Cink started that round eight shots behind.

This time, they start all square over 36 holes at Dove Mountain.

Woods figures to have an advantage in experience, among other things. Cink has never made it this far in the Match Play Championship, while Woods won in 2003 and 2004, and lost in the final match to Darren Clarke in 2000.

Cink's last victory was the NEC Invitational at Firestone in 2004. Since that time, he is 0-for-85 on the PGA Tour, while Woods has won 22 times in 56 starts.

It will be the sixth All-American final in 10 years of this World Golf Championship.