Date: February 25, 2007
Author: Sportal

Ogilvy into final

By Sportal Geoff Ogilvy is just one match away from defending his Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona after beating Chad Campbell in the semi-finals. The Australian won his match three and two, having earlier beaten Paul Casey five and four in the quarter-finals. Ogilvy had a tighter match against Campbell, but the US Open champion turned on the heat mid-round, picking up six birdies in seven holes to go two-up on his way back to the final. Campbell had seen off Stephen Ames one-up to set up his last four encounter with the Victorian star. Ogilvy now faces ninth seed Henrik Stenson, who never gave South African Trevor Immelman a chance in the other semi-final, picking up six birdies in the pleasant conditions en route to flawless three and two victory. Stenson, a member of last year&aposs victorious Ryder Cup team, is seeking to become the second European to win the World Golf Championships event, joining 2000 champion Darren Clarke. “I&aposm knackered now, playing two rounds today. It was nice not to have to go all the way to the end in this one,” Stenson said. Looking ahead to his clash with Ogilvy, Stenson added: “Every match is tough. It would be the same no matter who I was going to play. “Obviously Geoff played really well last year and is straight to the final this year.” The 30-year-old from Gothenburg got to the final in style, making three birdies in the first five holes to take a three-up lead. Immelman – who beat Justin Rose in the quarter-finals – won the par-four sixth with a birdie, but Stenson won the par-four ninth with a birdie to go three-up again. Immelman won the 12th with a birdie, but made a sloppy bogey at the 15th, handing the hole to Stenson, who went back to three-up with three to play. There was to be no big comeback by Immelman as Stenson closed it out with a par at the next. Earlier Stenson was somewhat fortunate to beat Australian Nick O&aposHern one-up in the quarter-finals. He was on the ropes after pulling his drive into a bush at the par-four 18th, from where he had little choice but to take a penalty drop. With the match all square, Stenson conjured up a piece of magic with a pitching wedge, picking his ball cleanly from a dusty lie and watching in delight as it landed beyond the pin and sucked back to within two feet.