February 22nd, 2010
Poulter wins World Match Play title
Ian Poulter secured his first victory on American soil after edging out compatriot Paul Casey in the WGC-Accenture Match Play final in Arizona.
Poulter made a strong start and was 4up after 14 holes before Casey reduced the deficit to two at the half-way stage on the 36-hole final.
The victory, which earns Poulter over £900,000, also sees him move up to fifth in the world rankings, while Casey moves in one place behind his Ryder Cup team-mate in sixth.
To win this golf tournament is mega for me. It means number five in the world, it means all the hard work, the hours, the gym work… it makes it all the more pleasing to be able to go out on this bigger stage against the best players in the world and pull a win off in this fashion,” said Poulter, who is the first Englishman to win the tournament.
“It’s been a long time coming. It was a good day’s golf. I knew I was in great form and I felt calm all day - nerves didn’t play any factor at all.”
This was the second successive defeat in the Match Play final for Casey, who lost to Australian Geoff Ogilvy at Ritz-Carlton club in Arizona last year.