Brit Poulter gets first PGA Tour win in Match Play

Ian Poulter overcame whipping wind, pounding rain and an unlucky hotel room to secure his first PGA Tour win Sunday in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana.

Poulter, who was ranked No. 11 in the world coming into the tournament, leaps to No. 5 with the $1.4 million, 4 & 2 win over fellow Englishman Paul Casey.

Poulter is the first Brit to win a World Golf Championship series title. He attributed the win to his putting, though his short game also contributed, he said after the 36 hole final.

"I would say my short game, certainly this week, is the best that it's ever been," he said.

Comfort and control were also factors.

"I don't think I've ever felt more comfortable on a golf course," said Poulter, who earned the win in his seventh Accenture Match Play. "I felt in control of my game all week."

Casey acknowledged that Poulter's control and putting were key.

"He did a fantastic job of making putts and keeping the ball in play and he kept the pressure on," the runner-up said after the match.

Casey shrugged when asked about his shortcomings in the final. He refused to blame fatigue, despite having played a marathon 23 holes on Saturday only to have to return to finish the semifinal before the 36 hole final Sunday morning.

"I don't feel physically tired. I feel mentally tired. But I'm not going to make excuses about it, you know?" he said.

Casey was also the runner-up last year, when Australina Geoff Ogilvy won. He was optimistic that good things would come of the second-place finish.

"It was a lot of good things happened after finishing second here last year, so hopefully a lot of good things can happen after finishing second again," he said.

Poulter overcame a bout of triscadecaphobia to achieve the win. When he returned to his hotel room on Friday night, there was party raging outside in a courtyard near his room. He asked to move away from the noise and was given a room with a number ending in 13.

"I was very concerned, I should say more than what most people would think. I( was very much thinking of moving rooms again. But I guess it worked. it worked fine," he said smiling.

Camillo Villegas of Colombia took home the third-place check for $600,000. He dispatched Sergio Garcia of Spain with a 4 & 3 score. Garcia, who had never advanced past Friday in nine tournament appearances, did not card a single birdie.

Villegas, who came into the tournament ranked No. 25, had four birdies in the consolation match.