CARLSBAD, California - Chris DiMarco completed a week of upsets at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Saturday, beating fourth seed Retief Goosen to set up an unlikely all-American final with Ryder Cup team mate David Toms.
With world number one Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods, the 2003 and 2004
champion, leading the elite 64-player field, few would have tipped a DiMarco-Toms showdown when the rain-delayed $7.5 million tournament began a day late on Thursday.
But the match play format lived up to its unpredictable reputation, DiMarco rallying from three down to dismiss South African Goosen 2 & 1 while Toms reached the final for the second time in three years with a 3 & 2 victory over Britain's Ian Poulter.
DiMarco, who had never advanced past the third round in four previous visits to the La Costa Resort and Spa, was three down to Goosen after three holes.
But Goosen, who has enjoyed good fortune throughout the tournament, saw his luck change on the par-four eighth when his tee shot lodged in the tangled branches of a tree.
As the gallery cheered, his caddie was hoisted up the tree but in the end the South African was forced to concede the hole, trimming his advantage to one up.
Seizing his chance, DiMarco carded four birdies in five holes from the 10th, clinching his spot in the final when Goosen missed a short par putt at the 17th.
Runner-up to Woods in 2003, Toms' second appearance in the final was well earned. He defeated two of the PGA Tour's hottest players, third seed Phil Mickelson and Nissan Open champion Adam Scott, before ending Poulter's Cinderella run.
Poulter, seeded 42, went one up after the first hole. But back-to-back eagles on 10 and 11 put Toms three up and he sealed his win with a birdie on the par-three 16th.
- REUTERS
