Golf's best match play stars clash for crown

MARANA, Arizona – Geoff Ogilvy reached the final of the Accenture Match Play Championship for the third time in four years on Saturday, and he’ll face Paul Casey.

Ogilvy made five birdies on the back nine to outlast teenage sensation Rory McIlroy in the quarterfinals, then played his final four holes in 5-under par against Stewart Cink for a 4-and-2 victory.

Meanwhile, Casey has turned in the most dominating performance in the 11-year history of this tournament.

In an all-England semifinal, Casey defeated Ross Fisher 2, and 1, and will have a chance to become the first Match Play champion to never trail in any match in the entire week. Even more astounding was that Casey has led 79 of the 80 holes he has played.

A tournament that no longer has Tiger Woods instead has the best two golfers in match play over the last three years.

Ogilvy was 17-2 in match play dating to his 2006 victory at the Accenture Match Play Championship. That includes a singles victory in the Presidents Cup.

Casey has won 16 of 20 outings in match play around the world, including his 2006 victory at the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, when he never trailed over the final 71 holes of that event.

Ogilvy will be trying to win a World Golf Championship for the third time in his career, the most of any player besides Woods, who has won 15 of them. For Casey, it would be his first professional victory in a US PGA Tour-sanctioned event. (AP)