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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 2, 2009

Ogilvy never met his match in tourney

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

As he did much of the week, Geoff Ogilvy routed Paul Casey, 4 and 3, to win the Accenture Match Play title.

MATT YORK | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Paul Casey

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MARANA, Ariz. — Geoff Ogilvy has been better than anyone in match play over the last four years.

One of these days, he might find out if that includes Tiger Woods.

Even without the world's No. 1 player around, Ogilvy finished off a remarkable weekend at Dove Mountain yesterday with a 4-and-3 victory over Paul Casey to win the Accenture Match Play Championship for the second time in four years.

Ogilvy played 66 holes on the weekend in 25-under par. He never trailed the final 63 holes of this event, mowing down teenage sensation Rory McIlroy and Stewart Cink on Saturday and never giving Casey a chance in the title match.

"The thing I'll remember is I beat some really good players, and I beat them well," said Ogilvy, who also won in 2006. "I played better and better during the week. Every round, I played better, which doesn't often happen in golf."

He saved his best against Casey, building a 3-up lead after the morning round, then pouring it on.

"This afternoon, three birdies in the first eight holes and I still lost two holes," Casey said. "Geoff was exceptional."

Cink defeated Ross Fisher in the consolation match with a birdie on the 18th hole for a 1-up victory.

A tournament that began with so much buzz over Woods' return from knee surgery ended with a newfound appreciation for the skill and composure of Ogilvy, who ran his career record to 18-3 in match play.

Woods is 40-12-1 in his professional career.

Ogilvy was asked if he was the best in the world at match play.

"This week I probably was. Last year, I was the 33rd best match-play player in the world," he said, referring to a first-round loss. "But I have played well in this tournament in the last few years. I'm obviously one of the better match-play players."

He was quick to note, however, that Woods won three straight U.S. Junior Amateur titles and three straight U.S. Amateurs. He also knew at the start of the week that Woods was in his quarter of the bracket.

"I think I would do OK," he said of a possible match against Woods. "Hopefully, we can do it one day, for sure."

Ogilvy won his third World Golf Championship — he will defend his title in two weeks at Doral in the CA Championship — the most of any player besides Woods, who has won 15 of these elite events.

Ogilvy closed out the match with a 6-foot birdie on the 15th hole. He won $1.4 million and moved up to No. 4 in the world ranking with his third victory in his last seven starts. He started the year with a wire-to-wire win at Kapalua, and won late last year at the Australian PGA Championship.

Casey came into the final match having led 79 of the 80 holes he had played in his five previous 18-hole matches.

That amazing mark didn't last long.

Ogilvy made birdie from 6 feet on the first hole, and when Casey failed to match him from 5 feet, it was the first time the Englishman had trailed all week. From there, it only got worse.

ELSEWHERE

Honda LPGA Thailand: Lorena Ochoa shot a 6-under 66 yesterday to overcome a three-stroke deficit for a three-stroke victory over Hee Young Park (65) at Pattaya, Thailand. Ochoa finished at 14-under 274 for her 25th career title.

Mayakoba Golf Classic: Mark Wilson shot a 2-under 68 yesterday for a 13-under 267 total and a two-stroke victory over J.J. Henry at Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Castle alum Dean Wilson shot 73—279 to earn $14,400.

Indonesia Open: Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee shot a 3-under 69 yesterday for a 12-under 276 total and a two-stroke victory over Steve Webster (68) and Simon Dyson (69) at Bali, Indonesia.

Moonah Classic: Australia's Alistair Presnell birdied the 18th hole for a 4-under 68 yesterday and a 9-under 279 total for a one-stroke victory over Peter O'Malley at Fingal, Australia.