CASARES, Spain - Ian Poulter refused Luke Donald of the Sunday World golf ranking for first place, beating his English countrymen 2 and 1 in the final of the World Match Play Championship to claim his first title in 2011.
Second Donald could be no. 1 for the first time, displacing compatriot Lee Westwood if he had won the tournament in Andalusia, but he did not find consistent form that has swept the final.
Poulter, who ousted Westwood in the last 16, was Ryder Cup teammate three times 1 in a match with error, but a 45-foot putt won the 12th hole and birdies on the fate of the 14th and 16th seal of Donald.
Ross Kinnaird / Getty ImagesIan Poulter, ranked 22nd, made clear Sunday, winning two of the last four holes with birdies."I did not play my best, but I played the right blows, at the right times" said Poulter, whose 14th career title he will lift no. 22 in the top 15 when the new ranking is published Monday. "" "". It is a very special day. ?
Poulter picked up select one winner to 1.14 million and is become the first player to win two titles of match play, after having won the Accenture tournament last year.
Donald won the edition of this event in Arizona in February 2011 and came in the final on a game of 14 wins in match play, which included victories in single and double to Ryder Cup last year.
But, just as he did last month - when he lost a match to Brandt Snedeker on heritage in South Carolina - Donald missed the opportunity to climb to no. 1, by recognizing the fatigue had taken with him in the South of the Spain.
"I just run out of steam a little bit", said Donald, which made only one birdie against Poulter. "I really did not play well." I had some opportunities on the Greens I can usually do in my sleep. It leaves a taste in my mouth. ?
Poulter, who beat Nicolas Colsaerts Belgium on the first hole of playoff in the second semi-final, earlier Sunday had been taken for at least 18 holes in its five previous games on the Finca Cortesin course this week.
Donald, on the other hand, had marched relentlessly to the final faced with an infection of the throat, despite compelling research in an overwhelming ranked third Martin Kaymer in the semi-finals.
"He plays like a machine," Kaymer said after his 5-3 thrashing.
Poulter was 1 at Donald the eighth when, after slicing his tee shot into the bushes beside the alley, he slipped down a bank trying to thrash his second shot.
"I think that my clothes were affected more than me", said Poulter.
It was lifted promptly concede the hole-free, shared the three next and is then in the match-turning point on the 12th green putt to draw even. Poulter is revealed too much down the finishing, Donald limping home with four bogies on his card.
Poulter played 108 holes this week, discarded his way for a first victory in the tournament since the Hong Kong Open last November. The match play format is certainly at his convenience.
"We will be able to 20 McGinley events per year, please." Poulter quipped. "It gets adrenaline goes, gets me is that if you are just to make birdies and winning easy matches." I like it just. It is good to have a good tussle.
"It doesn't have to be perfect image." It is sufficient to do the work. ?
Poulter won on the seventh anniversary of his only son, Luke.
"That makes even more special," said Poulter, who fly in England Sunday with Luke front of Wentworth PGA Championship.
Donald head for the same event, where he gets another chance to dethrone Westwood.
"This is the least of my concerns", Donald said the battle for the No. 1 spot. "He will come if I continued to play as I am."
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