Geoff Ogilvy enhanced his status in the game by clinching his sixth PGA Tour title with a commanding 4&3 victory over Britain's Paul Casey in Sunday's final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.
Three up after dominating the morning round, the Australian world No. 8 covered the first nine holes of the afternoon in five-under 31 before sealing the win with a birdie at the par-four 33rd.
It was Ogilvy's third World Golf Championships title, following his successes in the 2006 Accenture Match Play Championship and last year's CA Championship in Miami, and will lift him to fourth in the world rankings.
Englishman Casey, who had not trailed in any of his five previous matches at Dove Mountain's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, lost the opening hole of the day to Ogilvy and never got back on level terms.
"It's a very satisfying week to play well," Ogilvy, 31, told reporters after appearing in the tournament final for a third time in four years and extending his win-loss record at the event to 17-2.
"Tucson has been good to me this last week in February. For the last three or four years, it has been fantastic. I really enjoy this format and I just love playing in the desert."
The Australian, who claimed his only major victory at the 2006 US Open, won his maiden PGA Tour title at the 2005 Tucson Classic.
Casey, foiled in his bid to triumph for the first time on the US circuit, paid tribute to his good friend and neighbor in Scottsdale, Arizona.
"He just played excellent golf all day," the 31-year-old said. "He holed the putts when he needed to. I threw a lot at him and he didn't flinch."
Ogilvy, who has already established a formidable reputation as a matchplay golfer, birdied the opening hole in the afternoon round to go four up before Casey clawed one back by sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the par-five 20th.
The Englishman appeared likely to cut the deficit to two when he coaxed in a curling 40-footer to birdie the 22nd but Ogilvy responded by holing his putt there from 15 feet.
The next two holes were halved before the Australian stretched his lead to four after confidently rolling in a seven-footer to birdie the par-four 25th.
Ogilvy struck a dagger blow at the par-five 26th, hitting his second shot to six feet and knocking in the eagle putt to trump Casey's birdie there and forge five ahead.
Although Casey bogeyed the par-four 27th to trail by six, he won the par-five 29th with a conceded eagle putt and the 31st with a birdie to extend the match.
After both players drove just short of the green at the 343-yard 33rd, Ogilvy chipped up to six feet and knocked in the birdie putt to seal victory.
Ogilvy, who beat American Davis Love III 3&2 to win the 2006 title at La Costa, had birdied three of the first nine holes in the morning to go four up and set the tone for the day.
Although Casey picked up form after the turn and spectacularly holed out with a six-iron from 204 yards to eagle the par-four 10th, Ogilvy's flawless 6 under 66 put him in command at lunch.
In the consolation match played over one round, American Stewart Cink beat Britain's Ross Fisher one up to secure third place.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 3, 2009)
