Matt Kuchar denied Hunter Mahan a World Golf Championships Match Play Championship title repeat, triumphing over his fellow American 2 and 1 in Sunday's final at Dove Mountain.
Kuchar, eliminated by Mahan in the quarter-finals of the elite 64-man event last year, avenged that defeat as he prevented Mahan from joining Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the title.
"What an incredible feeling to be standing on top after six matches. I really have to give Hunter a lot of credit," Kuchar said.
"He got off to a slow start and I got up pretty quickly, 4-up at the turn. I was thinking I was going to try to do the same that he did to me last year and see if I could do 6 & 5. But Hunter made a great battle, played some great golf coming in."
Mahan was the first defending champion to return to the final since 2006 winner Geoff Ogilvy of Australia was runner-up in 2007.
"I didn't play well. You know, making a couple silly bogeys there. Kooch is a good player, he's a solid player. You saw today how he can get up and down and hit good quality shots. He didn't put himself in the desert really at all," Mahan said. "I put myself behind the eight-ball.
"I hit really good putts on seven and eight, and thought I could get one on nine. I really didn't do anything on those holes. I gained some momentum on 10, but it was too little too late."
Kuchar never trailed in the championship match, and in fact trailed for just three holes the entire week. The victory was his first in a WGC event and his fifth on the US PGA Tour.
Australian Jason Day was third, defeating former champion Ian Poulter of England in the consolation final 1-up.
Mahan 2-putted for par from the fringe at the 16th hole to close within 1-down. Both players then hit into the fairway bunker with their tee shots the 17th hole.
Mahan's second shot from a poor lie in the sand came up short. Kuchar landed his second shot within three feet of the cup. Mahan hacked his ball a few feet, then pitched his fourth shot to about seven feet.
But that would be it. Mahan then conceded Kuchar the birdie putt and the match.
Kuchar's triumph capped a wild week in the Arizona desert, where a snowstorm that halted first-round play on Wednesday was just the first surprise.
When the first round was finally completed on Thursday, the top two players in the world, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, were on their way home, and the second round saw the next four seeds -- Luke Donald, Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose -- eliminated as well.
The delays, which also included some morning frost delays, made for long days. But after the third round and quarter-finals were contested on Saturday, Poulter was looking a good bet to challenge for the title.
But Poulter, whose match play credentials include an unblemished Ryder Cup singles record as well as a triumph in this event in 2010 and in the World Match Play Championship in Spain in 2011, fell to Mahan in the semi-finals on Sunday morning, when a biting wind made for tough going.
"It was tricky," the Englishman said. "It was a lot windier today. Hunter never gave me too many opportunities. A couple of chip shots weren't quite right, couple of bunker shots weren't quite right. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't press him more."
AFP
Mon Feb 25 2013
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722341186_BursaMalaysia.jpg)
Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia
Bursa Malaysia menggantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bhd bagi baki tempoh hari ini selepas penyusutan harga yang ketara.
![Penampilan terbaik Gavin di Olimpik Paris 2024 Penampilan terbaik Gavin di Olimpik Paris 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51718705909_GavinGreen.jpg)
Penampilan terbaik Gavin di Olimpik Paris 2024
Pemain berusia 30 tahun itu berkongsi kedudukan dengan Fabrizio Zanotti dari Paraguay.
![MGA umum Pasukan Elit Program Pembangunan Remaja 2024/2025 MGA umum Pasukan Elit Program Pembangunan Remaja 2024/2025](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71711152392_TBFAUZIMESRAN.jpg)
MGA umum Pasukan Elit Program Pembangunan Remaja 2024/2025
Senarai tahun ini menampilkan 25 pemain berbakat besar berumur 13 hingga 18 tahun yang telah menunjukkan kemahiran luar biasa.
![Jing Xuen ketuai cabaran negara di Piala QSC 2024 Jing Xuen ketuai cabaran negara di Piala QSC 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/51685141199_NgJingXuen.jpg)
Jing Xuen ketuai cabaran negara di Piala QSC 2024
Ng Jing Xuen mengetuai cabaran negara di Piala Queen Sirikit (QSC) 2024, bersama dua pemain lain di Christchurch, New Zealand Mac depan.
![Tiger Woods gemparkan dunia golf Tiger Woods gemparkan dunia golf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81708145794_TigerWoods.jpg)
Tiger Woods gemparkan dunia golf
Tiger Woods menarik diri selepas dia melakukan teed off di lubang ketujuh dengan penonton menyaksikan dia diiringi dari padang dengan kereta golf.
![Pahang tubuh Akademi Golf Pahang Barat Pahang tubuh Akademi Golf Pahang Barat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708050194_TBAkademiGolfPah.jpg)
Pahang tubuh Akademi Golf Pahang Barat
Akademi itu yang dikelolakan MSP akan 'bertapak' di Padang Golf Raub, yang sedang dibaik pulih sebelum dibuka kepada umum tidak lama lagi.
![Gavin, Khavish hanya ketinggalan dua pukulan di belakang pendahulu bersama Veer, Jazz Gavin, Khavish hanya ketinggalan dua pukulan di belakang pendahulu bersama Veer, Jazz](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61708036168_GavinGreen.jpg)
Gavin, Khavish hanya ketinggalan dua pukulan di belakang pendahulu bersama Veer, Jazz
Pemain India, Veer Ahlawat dan Jazz Janewattananod dari Thailand muncul pendahulu bersama selepas melakarkan catatan sembilan bawah par 62.
![Ervin berazam lakukan yang terbaik pada golf Terbuka Malaysia Ervin berazam lakukan yang terbaik pada golf Terbuka Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-05/61652625173_RoyalSelangorGolf.jpg)
Ervin berazam lakukan yang terbaik pada golf Terbuka Malaysia
Secara mental, Ervin sudah bersedia memberi saingan sengit kepada pemain-pemain golf negara lain pada Kejohanan Golf Terbuka Malaysia.
![Jelajah Toyota 2023 perkukuh kesungguhan bangunkan sukan golf Malaysia Jelajah Toyota 2023 perkukuh kesungguhan bangunkan sukan golf Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/51700822701_BPGOLFTOYOTA.jpg)
Jelajah Toyota 2023 perkukuh kesungguhan bangunkan sukan golf Malaysia
Jelajah Toyota di landasan tepat sebagai medan ujian pemain golf profesional negara juga pentas mencungkil bakat-bakat baharu.
![Kejohanan Golf Malaysia Truly Asia Tourism 2023 mampu promosi pelancongan sukan negara Kejohanan Golf Malaysia Truly Asia Tourism 2023 mampu promosi pelancongan sukan negara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/61697128238_KejohananGolfMalay.jpg)
Kejohanan Golf Malaysia Truly Asia Tourism 2023 mampu promosi pelancongan sukan negara
Sebanyak lebih 200 pemain domestik dan luar negara akan berentap di dalam kejohanan julung kali diadakan itu.
![Gavin harap lakar persembahan lebih mantap pada Piala Toyota Cross Gavin harap lakar persembahan lebih mantap pada Piala Toyota Cross](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-05/61588695542_TBGAVINGOLFx.jpg)
Gavin harap lakar persembahan lebih mantap pada Piala Toyota Cross
Pemain ranking ke-199 dunia itu bagaimanapun berharap dapat mempamerkan prestasi yang lebih baik di Palm Garden.