Ian Poulter put on a short game masterclass to gain the biggest victory of his career and claim the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Following on from successes over Nike golf clubs user Justin Leonard, Adam Scott, Jeev Milkha Singh, Thongchai Jaidee and Sergio Garcia, Poulter defeated Paul Casey in the 36-hole final.

The Cobra golf equipment user recovered from an early setback to gain a 4&2 triumph, with his ninth career victory helping him climb to a personal best of number five in golf's official rankings.

Poulter said: "I was very comfortable on the golf course and I just felt keep doing what I was doing this week and hopefully I could get through.

"Paul was obviously going to be a great match and he proved that. It was always going to be tough. I'm just so happy to finally win on American soil."

For Casey, who plays with a Nike Victory Red STR8-Fit Tour golf driver, Nike Victory Red Forged golf wedges and Nike One Tour golf balls, it was another disappointment after losing to Geoff Ogilvy in the same final 12 months ago.

Casey had worked hard to reach the final after needing 24 holes to see off Camilo Villegas in the last four, but started brightly by firing his approach on the par-five second hole to within seven feet for eagle.

Poulter duly conceded after missing a birdie effort with his golf putter, but restored parity on the next and moved ahead at the seventh.

Form that moment Casey was always chasing, but gave himself a glimmer of hope when reeling off two quick holes at the end of the opening 18 to cut his deficit to two at the midway point.

He never got any closer though as Poulter carded another birdie on the 16th green to lift the Walter Hagen Cup.

The Cobra golf irons star added: "My short game was very, very good.

"I obviously made a lot of good up-and-downs at the right time. It kept a lot of pressure on my playing partners this week. I would think my putting was probably the best part."

Casey became the first player to ever lose successive finals and was left to rue some missed opportunities.

He said: "Poulter played great. There were a lot of shots which I wanted to pull off and I didn't. He did a fantastic job of making putts and keeping the ball in play and he kept the pressure on.

"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, especially if I play a full season."

Meanwhile, Villegas recovered from the setback of his agonising semi-final defeat to Casey to beat TaylorMade golf clubs user Garcia 5&4 in the third-place match.

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