Kuchar claims Match Play title

Last updated: 25th February 2013

Matt Kuchar beat defending champion Hunter Mahan 2&1 to win the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday.

It was Kuchar's fifth PGA title and his first a World Golf Championships event. Australian Jason Day claimed third spot with Ian Poulter forced to settle for fourth.

Mahan had yet to trail in the tournament heading into the final, in fact he had not been behind since a first round clash with Zach Johnson last year, but he was under the gun early as bogeys at four, five and six saw him fall three behind.

A birdie by Kuchar at the eight saw the American take a four-shot lead heading into the back nine.

Mahan hasn't excelled at the event for no reason, and launched a fightback on the closing nine, winning the 10th and 11th.

Kuchar responded with a birdie at the 13th to stretch the lead to three only to see Mahan bring it back to two with a great approach at the 14th. With Kuchar firing his tee-shot into the grandstands at the 16th Mahan was in with a real chance.

However, Kuchar produced the magic when it was required, conjuring up a brilliant second from a fairway bunker on the 17th to force Mahan into conceding the hole and with it the match.

"He got off to a slow start and I got off pretty quickly, four up at the turn and thinking I was going to try do the same to what he did to me last year and see if I can do six and five," said Kuchar.

"But Hunter made a great battle and he played some great golf and has a lot to be proud of, for two straight years making the championship match is great. To be standing here to get this trophy and one of the more exciting things was to see my kids say "are we going to take that home?!"