The Live Report, Final round: Accenture Match Play
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By PGATOUR.COM Staff
MORE ON OGILVY (5:30 p.m.): With Geoff Ogilvy capturing a a second career Accenture Match Play Championship title, beating Paul Casey 4 and 3, here's a look at the all-time win leaders in this event. -- Brian Wacker
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OGILVY'S RECORD AT THE MATCH PLAY (4:05 p.m): With Geoff Ogilvy about to up his record in this tournanment to 17-2 -- barring something spectacular from Paul Casey -- he'll go down as having fifith most wins in this event and the highest winning percentage in tournament history. That might seem a little skewed becasue Ogilvy has only played in four of these, compared to, say, the 10 that Tiger Woods, the all-time wins leader here, has. But it's pretty obvious this format suits Ogilvy's style of play. -- Brian Wacker
Here's a breakdown of who Ogilvy has beaten at this event:
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BORN IN THE USA (3:50 p.m.): There were 17 Americans in the field at the start of the Accenture Match Play Championship -- the fewest in the 11-year history of the tournament. On Sunday, there was only one remaining in Stewart Cink.
In the history of this tournament, there has never been a final four that did not include an American. -- Brian Wacker
MATCH PLAY COMEBACK (3:40 p.m.): While Paul Casey has been unable to stage any sort of comeback today, Stewart Cink has. Playing in the consolation match, Cink, 2 down at one point, has since rallied thanks a couple of bogeys by Ross Fisher on Nos. 6 and 9. Their match is all square as they play No. 10. -- Brian Wacker
CASEY'S TRUGGLES WITH PUTTER CONTINE (3:25 p.m.): Another 4-footer to chip away at Geoff Ogilvy's lead, another missed opporuntity for Paul Casey, who could only manage a par at the par-4 fifth hole after he hit it tight on his approach shot.
As a result, Ogilvy mantained his lead. Through 24 holes now after both players traded pars on Nos. 5 and 6, Ogilvy remains 3 up and appears to be closing in on his second career Accenture Match Play Championship title and third career World Golf Championships crown. -- Brian Wacker
OGILVY MAINTAINING LEAD (3:00 p.m.): Paul Casey pulled to within 3 up of Geoff Ogilvy thanks to a birdie from 17 feet on No. 2, but in three holes since then he hasn't been able to chip away at Ogilvy's advantage. Casey had a chance to on No. 4 after hitting his approach to 7 feet, but Ogilvy struck first by rolling in a birdie of his own from 20 feet.
It seems like every opportunity Casey has had today, he's either missed a crucial putt or watched Ogilvy make one on top of him. -- Brian Wacker
MOMENTUM KILLER (2:30 p.m.): Paul Casey just missed another makeable birdie putt, this time on the first hole as he and Geoff Ogilvy play their second 18 of the day. That opened the door for the Aussie, who drained a birdie attempt of his own from 6 feet, 5 inches to get back to 4 up. -- Brian Wacker
IF IT AIN'T BROKE (2:07 p.m.): Taking a 3-up lead into the afternoon session, Geoff Ogilvy certainly didn't see a reason to change anything.
He has made six birdies in bunches, with one stretch of three straight and another of two consecutive. The one hole he was in real danger, after finding the desert with his second shot and having to take a drop, he ended up chipping in for par.
"I played very well," Ogilvy said. "Missed a few putts but made a few as well and can't really fault the way I played. The only bad hole was the 11th where I ended up chipping in for par, so it was a good morning for me.
"I guess if you are leading, you are doing some good things. I will just keep doing as I am and playing each shot as I see it. If the ball goes where I see, we'll be all right." -- Helen Ross
CASEY AT THE HALFWAY MARK (2:00 p.m.): Paul Casey ended the morning session on a positive note with that 11-footer for birdie and the win at the 18th hole. But with Ogilvy hitting on all cylinders, the Brit needs to keep the momentum going so the afternoon doesn't get out of hand.
Casey made one eagle, three birdies and two bogeys during the opening 18, while Ogilvy had six birdies. Over his last 53 holes, the Aussie has made 18 birdies, one eagle and a lone bogey.
"I think he played very solid golf," Casey said. "He did miss a couple of putts for birdie. I feel like I need to step my game up a little. The ball-striking was OK but I need to make a few more putts to contend."
Casey had never trailed in his first five matches, and he had only lost one of the 80 holes he had played. Until Sunday, he had been particularly strong at the outset of each match, winning one or both of the first two holes seven times.
He'll need another fast start in the afternoon.
"For as bad as I feel about the first 18, it's not disastrous," Casey said. "I need to get off to a hot start. If I can get it to 1 down or 2 down going into the back nine, I will feel pretty good." -- Helen Ross
LAST-MINUTE MOMENTUM (1:24 p.m.): Paul Casey's troubles continued on the dogleg right 18th, where he found the right fairway bunker. While Geoff Ogilvy missed his fairway approach to the right and short of the pin, Casey recovered brilliantly from the bunker, hitting it to 11 feet. On the same line as Ogilvy, Casey got a good look at the putt and sank his to get back to three down. The players will now get a short break before returning for the final 18 holes this afternoon. -- Brian Wacker
CAN'T CATCH UP (1:08 p.m.): Both players found the fairway on No. 17 with near identical tee shots, and both hit tight approach shots, with Paul Casey's stopping closer at about 4 feet. No matter. Geoff Ogilvy rolled in an 11-footer before Casey made his putt for another halve. -- Brian Wacker
OGILVY ADDS TO LEAD (12:57 p.m.): Hitting to a left pin position that's directly over a bunker on the par-3 16th, Paul Casey played safely to the middle of the green, while Geoff Ogilvy went right at the flag, with his shot rolling to the back, but much closer than Casey's. Putting over a little hump, Casey seemed to have trouble judging the speed again and left it a good 2 feet short. Ogilvy took advantage, sinking his downhill putt to go 4 up again. -- Brian Wacker
MISSED OPPORTUNITY (12:47 p.m.): On the drivable par-4 15th, Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy both came up juist short of the green, though Ogilvy had a much tougher shot to a short pin that ran away from him. He nearly holed another chip, but it slid just by about 8 feet. With a much easier angle to the hole, Casey didn't exactly hit it tight, stopping it a good 6 or so feet away. He missed another opportunity when he he missed the putt and Ogilvy escaped still leading by three.
TIME TO THEMSELVES (12:37 p.m.): With a long walk from the 13th green to the 14th tee, players have a chance to collect themselves, and that's what Geoff Ogilvy did, blasting a tee shot down the fairway. Paul Casey, who found the left fairway bunker off the tee, hit it to within 20 feet -- just off the green but with a good enough lie to putt. He couldn't quite get it to the hole, though. Ogilvy missed his putt as well. Another halve. -- Brian Wacker
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A MATCH BETWEEN FRIENDS (12:35 p.m.): While our championship was making a mess of the par five 11th, there was silent proof that this match between friends is just that. Geoff Ogilvy needed a ruling left of the fairway in the desert. His ball was lodged into a cactus. After short deliberation, a drop for an unplayable lie was decided on, and a conference with PGA TOUR rules official Mark Russell ensued.
While all of this was going on, Paul Casey was up by the green not participating in the discussion or the process. He was 150 yards away. It is not only common but expected in match play that a player make sure that the ruling given to his competitor does not offer an unfair advantage, not that it ever does.
While this match has been contested at the highest level of competition, it has been friendly. Of course, it is early yet. If it is all square on the back nine of the second round, either competitor might be a little more vigilant. -- John Maginnes
CASEY STAYING IN THE MATCH (12:23 p.m.): The crowds are beginning to increase as Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey make their way down the 13th fairway. The wind is also starting to pick up just a touch, too. Ogilvy had a tricky stance with his feet just in the left fairway bunker and the ball above his feet in the grass. With a choked down 3-wood, Ogilvy hit into one of the bunkers fronting the green. Casey also missed the green, however. With the green running away from him, Ogilvy's shot hung on the fringe, while Casey nestled his pitch to just outside gimmie range. Casey made the putt, chipping away at Ogilvy's lead, to get to within three. -- Brian Wacker
A PAUSE IN THE ACTION (12:06 p.m.): At the picturesque, downhill, par-3 12th, Geoff Ogilvy's tee shot found the back left bunker, leaving him a tough shot to a short pin. Casey, meanwhile, hit safely in the middle of the green, but to a level below the pin. Ogilvy hit a great shot to about 3 feet, while Casey just slid his by. Two pars, and they move to No. 13. -- Brian Wacker
AND THE GOLF GODS TAKE IT BACK (11:55 p.m.): With honors on the tee for the first time in a long while, Paul Casey may have been a little amped up. He pounded his tee shot on No. 11, but pulled it and found the left fairway bunker. That forced him to lay up short of the waste area that croses the fairway, and his next shot from around 250 came up short and left. However, it seemed like he caught a break when Ogilvy's second went left and into the desert, landing in a cholla plant. Chollas are little cacti that will leap at you and stick to you if you get close to them. Ogilvy was forced to take a drop. His approach came up short of the green, but he chipped it in, forcing casey to make his 15-footer to halve. Casey missed the right-to-left putt, however, as it slid by low. Ogilvy went back to 4 up over Casey. -- Brian Wacker
CASEY GETS DRAMATIC (11:31 a.m.): Geoff Ogilvy might have had a 4 up lead, but you wouldn't know it. He's been very self-contained emotionally all week and that has continued today. He hasn't been too up or too down all day. Playing the 10th, however, Paul Casey just holed out for eagle from 204 yards out in the fairway. Ogilvy hit a great shot of his own, but it didn't go in. That's one way to get a hole back. -- Brian Wacker
CASEY KILLS PUTTING WOES BUT FALLS FURTHER BEHIND (11:23 a.m.): At the ninth, both Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey found the fairway at nearly identical lengths, but Casey came up short of the green -- leaving him another pitch shot from below the green -- while Ogilvy was already on in two. Casey left himself a distance that's bothered him all day, but he sank the putt anyway. Too bad Ogilvy rattled in another birdie. He now leads 4 up as the players make the turn for the back. -- Brian Wacker
OGILVY EXTENDS LEAD (11:07 a.m.): More hammering and banging in the distance caused Geoff Ogilvy to back off his tee shot at the 576-yard, par-5 eighth, but it was of little distraction as he bombed his tee shot to the end of the fairway, leaving 230 yards in. Paul Casey, meanwhile, was back a bit and couldn't get on in two with his 5-wood, leaving himself a tricky pitch from below the level of the green. Unable to get it close, he two-putted. Ogilvy did the same, but with a two-putt birdie to take a 3 up lead. -- Brian Wacker
DISTRACTIONS AND DETERMINATION (10:50 a.m.): On no. 7, Geoff Ogilvy had to back off his approach shot thanks to some hammering and other banging from a work zone near the hole. He stepped away twice before hitting it just past pin high about 15 feet away. Paul Casey was also pin high but had to come over a swail and again ran it by. Casey's been having trouble figuring out the speed all morning, but he saved par to force a halve. -- Brian Wacker
OGILVY MAINTAINING CONTROL (10:36 a.m.): The pin on the par-3 sixth was directly over a bunker and that's where Paul Casey hit his 7-iron. The shot didn't hold and released to the back fringe, but Geoff Ogilvy had a much tougher proposition after his tee shot fell off the left side of the green, leaving him a long, twisting, uphill putt. After both players missed their initial putts, Casey power-lipped his testy 5 footer, while Ogilvy made his from just inside the same distance to take a 2 up lead. -- Brian Wacker
TEMPERS RISING (10:26 a.m.): Geoff Ogilvy looked a little steamed as he made his way to the fifth tee and he slammed his driver to the ground after pushing his tee shot a little right. It stayed in the fairway, however, and he found the front part of the green, as did Paul Casey. With both players on the level below the pin, neither was able to make birdie. A pair of two putts by each resulted in another halve. -- Brian Wacker
CHANCE TO GO 2 UP (10:12 a.m.): The fourth hole here is littered with fairway bunkers, but both players found the short grass -- though Geoff Ogilvy had a clearer route to the green by playing up the right side, which allowed him to take the bunker that fronts a left pin a little more out of play. As a result, he went right at the pin and stuck it to within 10 feet. Ogilvy wasn't able to convert, however, missing on the low side and as a result only managing a halve. -- Brian Wacker
KEEPING IT CLOSE (10:00 a.m.): There was a fair amount of discussion between Paul Casey and his caddie over which club to hit on the par-3 third, and Casey decided to switch clubs and take one longer. As a result, he hit it right over the flag, but to the top shelf, leaving a lengthy putt that slid just by the high side of the hole. Ogilvy missed his birdie attempt from about 12 feet, however, so Casey remained just 1 down. -- Brian Wacker
SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR GAMES (9:49 a.m.): Geoff Ogilvy found the left fairway bunker off the tee on No. 2, while Paul Casey split the fairway. Ogilvy came up just short of the green on his approach, but Casey pulled his iron shot a bit and found the greenside bunker on the left. A tough right pin placement on a little plateau made it near impossible to get either of their shots close and both players two-putted to halve the hole. For two guys who are good friends, there hasn't been a whole lot of chit chat so far. -- Brian Wacker
CASEY TRAILS FOR FIRST TIME ALL WEEK (9:35 a.m.): It was clear and cool this morning, with temperatures in the low 50s, as Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey teed off in their 36-hole final. It's a little surreal with no one else on the golf course and just a smattering of fans. Ogilvy opened with a birdie on the first to take an early 1 up lead, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. -- Brian Wacker
EARLY START (9:15 a.m.): We're about 10 minutes away from the start of the 36-hole final between Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey.
While Ogilvy said today's match won't be any different than any other round of golf once the two are on the course, he did admit it's a bit odd when you get to the golf course.
"When we were alone for breakfast at La Costa, there's 25 tables in there, and the Australians and I are kind of walking one side of the room to the other and you end up having breakfast -- it's kind of weird," Ogilvy joked. "The locker room attendant is standing over you the whole time because you're only one of two guys. You pull into the parking lot and there's two cars and you're on the range and one goes to one side of the range, one goes to the other. That sort of stuff is the odd part." -- Brian Wacker
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