Kuchar claims WGC; Day grabs third

American Matt Kuchar was the last man standing at the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship, taking the top prize with a 2&1 win over Hunter Mahan in the final day at the Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Arizona.

Poulter, who played brilliantly in his quarter-final win over Steve Stricker on the Saturday evening, was beaten in  the Sunday morning semi-final 4-up by defending champion Hunter Mahan. Kuchar, meanwhile, advanced to the final  with a 4-up victory over Australia’s Jason Day, who had shown brilliant form over the week. Day went on to defeat Poulter 1-up in the ‘consolation’ match to determine third and fourth place.

“I’m personally disappointed,” said Poulter on his match versus Mahan. “I would have liked the outcome to have been slightly different, but Hunter played very solid today.

“He chipped it unbelievably well when he had to, and I think the key point in the match was around 11 and 12.  I had a putt there to win the hole on 11 from about eight feet and I missed it, and then he hit the wrong club on 12, went flying through the back of the green but then chipped in.

“That was a huge turnaround there as I was in position and could have changed that match around at that point. But from then there was no let up. He pars the next couple of holes and I miss a short putt on 14.

“So it was a shame, really, but it has been a good positive week for me and I feel very strong and positive for the season ahead.”

For Day, the third-place finish will certainly be inspirational as he attempts to regain the solid form of 2011.

Day was the lone Australian to see any real success at the event, with Marcus Fraser, Adam Scott and John Senden all losing in early rounds.

  WGC, featured, hunter mahan, ian poulter, jason day, matt kuchar